China slams US FCC curbs on testing labs, vows countermeasures
China's commerce ministry has strongly opposed a US Federal Communications Commission decision to ban authorised testing labs in China from FCC-related business from 2028, calling it a violation of bilateral agreements and warning of further countermeasures.
China's commerce ministry has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to a decision by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restrict testing laboratories in China, and has already taken countermeasures, warning that if the US persists, China will take further necessary steps to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
The FCC recently ruled that from 1 December 2028, it will no longer authorise testing laboratories, telecommunications certification bodies or laboratory accreditation bodies located in "non-reciprocal economies" including China to carry out FCC-related testing, certification or accreditation activities.
A commerce ministry spokesperson said the FCC had ignored China's repeated representations and violated the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state. The spokesperson accused the US of frequently introducing China-related restrictions that seriously harm the interests of China and other trading partners, damage the stability of Sino-US economic and trade relations, and disrupt global supply chains.
The spokesperson emphasised that Chinese testing laboratories are an important part of the global testing and certification system, providing cost-effective and efficient services for the production and trade of telecommunications, electronics and smart-manufacturing products worldwide. The US administrative intervention in market choices would hurt American businesses and consumers, the spokesperson added.
China has repeatedly proposed negotiating a bilateral mutual recognition agreement with the US, but the spokesperson said the US side had been extremely negative and unresponsive. The ministry called on the US to listen to industry voices, respect market forces, work with China in the same direction, and immediately rescind the measures.