China criticized a US FCC proposal to bar Chinese labs from electronics testing, saying it would harm trade ties and pledged retaliation if implemented.
A proposal to restrict where electronics are tested in the United States has quickly turned into a fresh flashpoint for China-US trade relations.
On May 1, China condemned a plan put forward by the US Federal Communications Commission that would bar some foreign labs from carrying out testing for devices intended for the US market. China said the step would undermine bilateral trade ties and vowed to respond if it moves forward.
The dispute matters beyond lab paperwork: decisions about testing and certification can shape which products reach consumers, and how companies plan supply chains. In this context, regulators on both sides are effectively drawing new lines on access and compliance.
The FCC voted on April 30 to advance the proposal. If adopted, it could affect devices including smartphones and cameras, according to the regulator’s description of the scope.
China’s commerce ministry said the restrictions would “seriously undermine the international economic and trade order.” It also warned that if the US continues down what it called the wrong path, China would take “necessary measures” to protect the rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
The pushback highlights a familiar pattern in technology trade disputes: even when framed as security or compliance, the practical impact often falls on companies that rely on cross-border testing and certification.
The FCC has described the approach as a way to “prioritise national security.” The proposal comes after the agency adopted rules that bar test labs owned or controlled by “foreign adversaries,” setting a precedent for tighter requirements.
Under the plan, recognition of test labs and certification bodies could be limited in countries that do not have a mutual recognition agreement with the United States, or a comparable reciprocal trade arrangement.. The FCC indicated that products relying on testing and certification from such labs would face a phase-out timeline after final rules are implemented.
China said it does not have the kind of pact the FCC cited, and accused the regulator of repeatedly introducing restrictive measures against Chinese products and companies.
The latest escalation matters because it may force manufacturers to rethink where they validate products before sale, while also raising the broader risk of retaliation in other parts of the trading relationship.