US to Ban Electronics Manufacturers from Testing in Chinese Labs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a controversial decision banning all electronics manufacturers, including smartphone producers, from conducting device testing in Chinese laboratories.
According to a report from GSM Arena on Monday (4 May) local time, this decision applies to all electronic devices marketed in the US.
As an illustration from the smartphone industry, laboratory testing is conducted to ensure standards such as radio emissions to network compatibility.
Given that a series of global smartphone brands originate from China, they naturally have independent research and development (R&D) centres in their home country.
Of course, with the FCC’s ban on testing in Chinese laboratories being implemented, this becomes one of the obstacles for electronics manufacturers to easily enter the US market.
Moreover, based on FCC data, around 75 percent of all electronic devices in the US rely on testing results from laboratories in China.
After this ban is issued, the FCC is opening a public comment period of 30-60 days for industry players and consumers. During this period, the FCC may still make changes to the ban.
Although it appears controversial, the existence of this rule is not too surprising because the US has regarded China as a threatening competitor.
In addition to the ban on testing in Chinese laboratories, the FCC is also considering prohibiting US electronics testing in all countries that do not have mutual recognition agreements (MRAs).
If the ban rule is established, it is likely not to affect electronic devices that were certified before the rule was issued.
Devices will still be allowed to circulate in the US market for two years before they must be recertified.
This means that for the smartphone industry in the US, older iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxies are likely to be withdrawn from the market to avoid recertification.
In the future, smartphones to be marketed in the US but produced in China must first be sent to another country where the FCC approves certification testing before arriving in the US.
Of course, this scheme will be very time-consuming and costly, but if this rule continues to apply, smartphone manufacturers will have no choice but to face this scheme.