FCC Moves to Shut Out All Chinese Labs From Testing US Electronics

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A Vote With Wide Consequences

The FCC announced on Wednesday that it will decide on October 29 whether to ban all Chinese labs from testing smartphones, cameras, computers and similar devices for use in the United States.

The rule would also cover test labs and certification bodies in any other country that does not treat US-based labs fairly in return. In practice, China is the main target, because it has no reciprocity agreement with the United States.

The FCC says its new rules would not take effect until December 2028.

Why Testing Matters

Almost every electronic device sold in the US must pass the FCC's approval process first. Part of that process is testing in a recognized laboratory. (Think of it as a safety and security inspection before a product can reach store shelves.)

FCC Chair Brendan Carr says most of this testing now happens in China. He put the 2025 share at 82%, while less than 4% of devices were tested inside the US. Earlier FCC estimates were around 75%.

Carr argues that this leaves the US dependent on labs it cannot properly oversee. The FCC has said it wants "fair and reciprocal treatment" in international trade.

From "Bad Labs" to a Full Ban

The new step builds on earlier actions. In 2025, the FCC adopted its "Bad Labs" rules, which bar labs owned or controlled by foreign adversary governments. According to the FCC, it has since withdrawn or denied recognition for more than twenty such labs.

The FCC concluded that this was not enough. It said many of the labs it had recognized had deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party, including links to state-owned companies and the military. Carr called such labs a "gateway" into US telecommunications infrastructure. He warned that a lab beholden to a foreign adversary could approve insecure equipment.

In April 2026, the FCC voted 3–0 to start a broader rulemaking aimed at countries without reciprocity agreements. Beijing reacted sharply. It said the plan hurt trade relations and threatened "necessary measures" to protect Chinese companies.

Part of a Larger Pattern

The lab ban is one of several recent US measures aimed at China-linked technology:

• The FCC banned imports of new Chinese drone models in December.
• It also barred new models of Chinese-made consumer routers.
• In July, it voted to block sales of devices containing key hardware from Chinese companies deemed security risks.
• It keeps a list of companies, including Huawei and ZTE, whose equipment cannot be sold in the US.

Carr has framed the reciprocity approach as part of President Donald Trump's "America First" trade policy. He says the Obama administration gave up reciprocity in testing in 2015. Until then, the FCC had allowed testing only in the US or in countries that offered the same treatment in return.

What Could Change for Consumers

The FCC is also creating a faster approval process for devices tested in US labs or in labs from countries that pose no national security risk. The aim is to give manufacturers a reason to move testing to trusted locations.

There could be a cost. Reports say Chinese labs charge roughly $400 to $1,300 for basic FCC testing, while US labs charge about $3,000 to $4,000. Many Chinese labs also sit next to the factories that build the devices, which makes testing quick and convenient.

The 2028 start date gives industry time to adjust. Supporters say the trade-off is worth it for secure networks and fair trade. Critics warn of higher costs and supply-chain disruption.

Outlook

The October 29 vote will show how far the FCC is willing to go. If the rule passes, manufacturers will have just over two years to move their testing out of China or to labs in reciprocal countries. Beijing has already signaled it may retaliate.

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Sources

1. Reuters – "US FCC to vote to ban all Chinese labs from testing US electronics" (Oct 7, 2026): https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-fcc-vote-ban-chinese-labs-testing-us-electronics-2026-10-07/
2. FCC – News release, "FCC Looks to Prohibit Electronic Device Testing Using Labs in Countries Without Reciprocal Agreements" (Apr 30, 2026): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-421311A1.pdf
3. FCC – Statement of Chairman Carr, FCC 26-28 (Apr 30, 2026): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-421311A2.pdf
4. FCC – Announcement, "FCC to Ensure Integrity and Security in Electronic Device Testing" (Apr 8, 2026): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-420693A1.pdf
5. South China Morning Post / Reuters – "FCC votes to bar Chinese labs from testing US tech if they've been deemed security risks": https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3311444/fcc-votes-bar-chinese-labs-deemed-security-risks-testing-us-electronics
6. AFP via B360 – "China slams US regulator's move to ban labs from electronic testing" (May 1, 2026): https://www.b360nepal.com/detail/28515/china-slams-us-regulators-move-to-ban-labs-from-electronic-testing
7. TechSpot – "Devices could cost more as FCC moves to ban China": https://www.techspot.com/news/112305-devices-could-cost-more-fcc-moves-ban-china.html

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