Smartphones and other electronic devices preparing to enter the US market may face more cumbersome and expensive listing requirements in the future. This was recently stated by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).To put forward a resolutionThe plan is to completely ban the use of equipment testing data provided by laboratories located in China. If this ban, citing "national security" concerns, is implemented, it means that new mobile phones from major brands (including Apple, Samsung, and Google) will have to go through considerable trouble to send their products to other countries with bilateral certification agreements for testing. This is expected to significantly increase certification costs for hardware manufacturers and lengthen product launch times.
The core of the ban: Without a "mutual recognition agreement," there's no point in discussing it.
Any electronic device that wants to be legally sold in the U.S. market must pass the FCC's rigorous certification to ensure that its radio transmission power, electromagnetic interference, and network compatibility meet the regulations.
In the past, in pursuit of maximum efficiency, many brands would conduct these complex tests directly near their contract manufacturers in China or in their own R&D centers in China. According to the FCC, approximately 75% of devices currently on the US market rely on certification data provided by Chinese laboratories.
Based on the United States' long-standing view of China as a national security threat, the FCC has not only targeted China this time, but has also proposed a broader motion: banning all laboratory test results from countries that have not signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the United States. This proposal is currently in a 30-60 day public comment period.
Currently, there is no MRA agreement between the United States and China. Therefore, if this proposal becomes a formal regulation, it means that hardware manufacturers must complete product certification within the United States or send their products to countries or regions that have signed mutual recognition agreements with the United States for certification. However, this will inevitably increase the cost of mobile phones and other products sold in the United States in the future, and may even lead to these costs being passed on to the final selling price.
Some existing products escaped unscathed, but new models will face a major logistical challenge upon launch.
However, the proposal includes a "non-retroactive" grace period. If the proposal passes, devices that have already obtained FCC certification will have a two-year grace period and will not need to be recertified immediately. This means that older iPhones, Pixels, or Galaxy phones currently on the market will not be affected; they will naturally reach the end of their product lifecycle within these two years and be removed from sales channels.
However, the future "new mobile phones" will face a nightmare of logistics and time management. In the future, after the new phones are produced in Chinese factories, manufacturers will have to "ship" test prototypes across borders to countries and regions with FCC-accredited laboratories, such as Taiwan, South Korea, the European Union, or the United States, and obtain reports before they can be released for sale in the US market.
Analysis of viewpoints
On the surface, the FCC's move appears to be aimed at preventing potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities (from China), but in terms of the actual operation of the industry chain, it may bring higher cost challenges for Apple, Google, and other brands.
In the fiercely competitive consumer electronics market, "time to market" has become crucial for gaining market share. Product testing and certification, which could previously be completed within or near the factory, may now require an additional two to three weeks (or even longer) due to cross-border logistics, customs inspections, and long queues at overseas laboratories. Furthermore, significantly increased testing fees and logistics costs will ultimately lead to higher prices for products launched in the United States.
From a longer-term strategic perspective, the FCC's move is undoubtedly putting pressure on global manufacturers: if you want to do business with Americans, keeping the "testing and verification" process in China is no longer a good idea. This will further accelerate the relocation of high-end R&D centers, testing labs, and even final assembly lines (NPI) by brands to "non-China" regions such as India, Vietnam, or Taiwan, which are eligible to sign mutual recognition agreements.
