New US Manoeuvre Against China: Tightening Smartphone Regulations

The technological competition between the United States (US) and China is intensifying. Now, it is the US’s turn to manoeuvre by issuing new regulations related to smartphones.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just approved a step to prohibit laboratories in China and Hong Kong from testing devices that will be sold in the US market.

This policy may seem rather technical. However, its impact could be direct on consumers, potentially making mobile phone prices more expensive.

For context, devices that emit radio frequencies, such as smartphones, tablets, routers, and laptops, must pass FCC certification before they can be sold in the US.

This process requires the devices to be sent to a laboratory for testing, ensuring they meet emission standards and network compatibility.

Consequently, this regulatory change will force producers or gadget vendors to move the testing process to other countries, such as the US itself, Japan, the UK, or Taiwan.

This is where the problems begin to arise. Testing costs in China have been relatively cheap, ranging from $400 to $1,300 (approximately Rp 6.7 million to Rp 21.9 million).

In contrast, in the US, the costs could surge to between $3,000 and $4,000 (approximately Rp 50.7 million to Rp 67.6 million).

This disparity could drive up production costs, which in turn could affect device prices in the market. According to a report from Android Headlines, the FCC’s new step is intended to tighten previous policies.

In 2025, the FCC had already first banned testing in laboratories linked to the Chinese government. Now, the scope has been expanded to all labs in China and Hong Kong.

The FCC justifies this step as part of efforts to reduce national security risks, while also limiting China’s access to US technology.

Producers now must ship devices from factories in China to other countries solely for the certification process, before finally sending them to the US.

This process not only adds costs but also time. Some major companies have already begun adapting.

Apple and SpaceX have reportedly moved part of their certification processes to other countries such as Japan and the UK, as compiled by KompasTekno from GSM Arena.