The Trump administration is preparing sweeping restrictions that could prohibit Chinese-made data center equipment from being used in critical American infrastructure and federal facilities, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the plans.
The measures under consideration could apply to devices, components and subcomponents even when the final products are assembled outside China. Officials are seeking to close what they view as potential security gaps in the systems that support U.S. data centers, telecommunications networks and other sensitive infrastructure.
The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the U.S. telecommunications industry, is considering steps that could block imports of additional Chinese equipment within the coming months. Officials are particularly focused on products that could secretly transmit data, install malware or allow remote access.
The restrictions could cover a broad range of equipment, including cooling fans, power meters, semiconductors and fiber-optic components. No final list of prohibited products has been completed, and the plans remain under development.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has warned that Chinese-made technology embedded in American infrastructure could potentially be used by Beijing in response to U.S. sanctions or other disputes. He said the government must ensure that foreign adversaries cannot use equipment inside the country to threaten national security.
A ban on newly introduced Chinese data center devices could affect major Chinese manufacturers, including Zhongji Innolight, one of the world’s largest producers of optical transceivers. The company was added to a Pentagon list in June identifying firms it considers connected to China’s military.
China’s embassy in Washington said the United States was using national security as a pretext to suppress Chinese companies and warned that Beijing would take “all necessary measures” to defend their interests.
Concerns over Chinese technology in American infrastructure have increased after reports that federal agencies purchased approximately $25 million in Chinese-made power inverters since 2020. Officials have also raised concerns about Chinese cooling equipment already embedded in U.S. facilities, with efforts to remove some systems described as slow, costly and incomplete.
The FCC has previously imposed restrictions on Chinese-made drones, routers, phones and power inverters. It also maintains a list of communications equipment and service providers considered a threat to national security, preventing listed products from receiving authorization for sale in the United States.
The proposed data center restrictions would mark another step in the Trump administration’s broader effort to reduce America’s reliance on Chinese technology and protect sensitive infrastructure from espionage, sabotage and unauthorized access.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
