FCC to ban Chinese test labs from certifying US gadgets by 2029

The Federal Communications Commission plans to prohibit all Chinese laboratories from testing and certifying consumer electronics for entry into the United States starting in December 2028. The agency will vote on this proposal on October 29, 2026. Under the new rule, a lab must have a reciprocal economic relationship with the US to receive authorization. This move follows a decade of distrust regarding Chinese telecom equipment, which began with providers like Huawei and ZTE.

The ban on foreign test labs is part of a wider effort to restrict Chinese-made gadgets. In December 2025, the FCC banned all future foreign drones unless companies obtained a waiver. Subsequent orders targeted routers, power inverters, and mobile robots, including robot vacuums. The government cites national security risks, though it has not released public evidence of specific threats. Existing devices in US homes are not subject to these bans.

Manufacturers are struggling to replace foreign products. Most consumer electronics are built overseas. TP-Link, a major router maker, has pledged to invest nearly $1 billion to build Wi-Fi 8 devices in the US. The company stated it would begin assembling these units by next year. This commitment is a condition for its waiver. Competitors Netgear and Asus received blanket waivers earlier in the year without public plans for US manufacturing.

The FCC has also tightened oversight of certification bodies. It recently revoked credentials from two Chinese labs, SLG-CPC Test Laboratory and Shenzhen STS Test Services. The agency found these firms willfully provided incorrect or false test results. The FCC and its subcontractor TÜV Rheinland also blocked applications from Jovistar, identified in public records as a front company for drone maker DJI. DJI remains under scrutiny, with sealed Pentagon letters sent to 16 congresspeople justifying the restrictions.

Online marketplaces face new compliance rules. The FCC is accepting comments on a plan that would require platforms like Etsy and Amazon to verify the FCC status of every gadget listed. Sellers of banned items, such as DJI cameras, can currently sell units already in the country without seizure risk. Companies like HoverAir have adapted by selling cameras and propellers separately to bypass the drone ban. The agency aims to close these gaps before the 2029 deadline.