THE U.S. EXPANDS RESTRICTIONS ON OVERSEAS-MANUFACTURED EQUIPMENT TO INCLUDE DRONES, ROUTERS, AND VACUUM ROBOTS The U.S. is expanding FCC restrictions originally targeting Chinese telecommunications equipment to now include drones, routers, and vacuum robots, amid ongoing debate over the policy’s effectiveness and supply chain substitution capabilities. The U.S. government is broadening its restrictions on foreign-manufactured equipment, extending beyond Chinese telecommunications devices to encompass consumer goods such as drones, routers, and vacuum robots. Washington claims this move aims to reduce national security risks, yet the actual efficacy of the measures and the feasibility of supply chain alternatives remain contentious. According to The Verge, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has steadily tightened regulations on foreign-manufactured electronic devices since Donald Trump’s second term began. For over a decade, the U.S. has regarded Chinese telecommunications manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE as national security threats. Subsequently, Washington restricted approval of new devices from these companies and required carriers to remove and replace existing equipment. However, some carriers have yet to complete this replacement process. Since December last year, regulatory controls have been expanded to include foreign-made drones. In March of this year, the FCC added consumer routers to its stricter approval list, and in July, it further extended restrictions to advanced robots and power inverters. The regulations on robots apply not only to autonomous robots but also to vacuum cleaners and lawn-mowing robots if they meet certain criteria. The core of the policy lies in the FCC’s restriction on granting approvals for equipment. By principle, products manufactured overseas and listed under these restrictions are barred from receiving approval for new sales in the U.S. However, previously approved products may still be sold or used. In some cases, the U.S. government may grant exceptions through conditional approvals. The FCC argues that foreign-manufactured devices could be exploited to leak personal data, be remotely controlled, or disrupt telecommunications networks. Conversely, critics point out that there is limited publicly available evidence detailing specific risks for each product category, and the criteria for granting exceptions lack transparency. In practice, Netgear and Asus have received conditional approvals for certain router models. Meanwhile, TP-Link—a company with Chinese origins—is struggling to launch new products in the U.S. market; the company has even announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion in manufacturing routers domestically. The challenge of securing alternative supply chains is no simple task. The majority of drones and routers sold in the U.S. are currently manufactured overseas, and the vacuum robot market is also heavily influenced by Chinese companies. The U.S. government hopes these new measures will support domestic production and strengthen supply chain security. However, some voices warn that these policies may reduce consumer choice and drive up product prices. By Choi Jae-won