Reuters reported that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans a November 19 vote on a proposal restricting direct access to U.S. telephone numbers by China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, and certain other IP-enabled telecommunications providers. The proposal would also address service providers using equipment from companies identified as national-security risks, including Huawei and ZTE. The FCC has previously restricted the three major Chinese carriers' international telecommunications services in the United States. The newly described measures are proposals, not completed prohibitions, and the Chinese Embassy has criticized them as harmful to commercial cooperation.
Reuters+1
Source: Reuters, October 30
Why it matters strategically
Telecommunications restrictions can operate as non-tariff barriers.
The relevant mechanisms include network authorization, equipment eligibility, data-security requirements, and access to national communications infrastructure.
These measures may affect operating models even when no additional import tariff is imposed.
