The United States has approved new restrictions barring Chinese laboratories from testing smartphones, computers, cameras and other electronic devices intended for the American market. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on October 29, 2026, to expand its restrictions beyond laboratories owned or controlled by the Chinese government, introducing a broader requirement based on reciprocal access for US testing facilities.
The decision could also create challenges for India’s electronics testing industry. India is not included in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s published list of telecommunications testing mutual-recognition agreement partners. This raises questions about whether Indian laboratories will continue to qualify for US regulatory testing work. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2028, giving manufacturers and testing companies time to assess alternative arrangements.
Key Takeaways
- The FCC voted on October 29, 2026, to restrict Chinese laboratories from testing electronics intended for the US market.
- The restrictions also cover laboratories in other countries that do not offer qualifying reciprocal treatment to US testing facilities.
- India could be affected because it is absent from the published US telecommunications mutual-recognition agreement partners list.
- The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2028.
- The rules concern product testing and certification, not a blanket ban on smartphones or computers manufactured in China or India.
- Manufacturers may need to shift testing to eligible laboratories in the US or other recognised countries.
- India could face pressure to establish or strengthen reciprocal testing arrangements with Washington.
What Has the US FCC Decided?
The Federal Communications Commission has approved new restrictions on foreign laboratories that test electronic products seeking authorisation for sale in the United States.
The decision expands an earlier restriction introduced in 2025, which prevented laboratories owned or controlled by the Chinese government from conducting testing recognised by the FCC.
The latest decision goes further by applying a reciprocity requirement. Laboratories in countries that do not provide comparable access to US-based testing facilities could lose their ability to conduct recognised testing for the American market.
The restrictions cover laboratories and certification bodies involved in evaluating electronic devices, including:
- Smartphones
- Desktop computers and laptops
- Digital cameras
- Wireless communication equipment
- Other electronic products subject to FCC equipment authorisation requirements
The FCC argues that laboratories conducting product testing can gain access to confidential technical information, including product designs and details about wireless communication systems.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has cited concerns about national security, intellectual property protection and the possibility of insecure equipment entering American communications networks.
The restrictions are part of Washington’s broader effort to reduce perceived technology and supply-chain risks linked to China.
Why Is Washington Targeting Chinese Testing Laboratories?
China plays a major role in the global electronics testing industry. A large proportion of smartphones, computers and other electronic devices are tested in Chinese laboratories before being sold internationally.
According to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, approximately 82% of electronic devices were tested in China in 2025, while fewer than 4% were tested in laboratories located in the United States.
This dependence has become a concern for US regulators because testing facilities may receive access to sensitive information before products reach the market.
The FCC has argued that foreign laboratories could potentially expose confidential product information or create security risks if testing and certification processes are not sufficiently protected.
The agency also says that the US should receive reciprocal treatment from countries whose laboratories are permitted to test products for the American market.
The latest decision therefore combines two objectives: reducing reliance on Chinese testing facilities and encouraging other countries to provide comparable access to US-based laboratories.
Could India Be Affected by the New US Testing Rules?
India is among the countries that could face questions under the new framework.
The country has developed a substantial electronics manufacturing and testing ecosystem, supported by smartphone production, component manufacturing and government-backed manufacturing initiatives.
However, India does not appear on the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s published list of telecommunications testing mutual-recognition agreement partners.
This matters because the FCC’s latest decision extends beyond China. It also covers countries that do not offer qualifying reciprocal treatment to US testing laboratories.
Indian testing facilities that currently support products intended for the US market could therefore face uncertainty over their eligibility under the revised framework.
However, India’s absence from the published mutual-recognition agreement list does not, by itself, establish that every Indian laboratory will be excluded. The FCC’s rules also refer to comparable reciprocal arrangements, and the precise treatment of individual facilities will depend on the final regulatory requirements.
India and the US could explore arrangements that allow eligible Indian laboratories to continue supporting American product approvals.
What Does the Decision Mean for Indian Smartphone Manufacturers?
The new restrictions do not directly prohibit smartphones or computers manufactured in India from entering the US market.
Instead, they affect the testing and certification process that certain electronic products must complete before being sold in America.
This distinction is important because India has become a major manufacturing base for smartphones supplied to domestic and international markets.
Companies such as Apple and other global electronics manufacturers use Indian factories as part of their production networks. If testing facilities in India become ineligible under the revised FCC framework, manufacturers may have to send product samples to laboratories in the US or other qualifying countries.
That could create additional costs and logistical challenges.
Potential consequences include:
Higher testing expenses: Companies may need to pay for testing in alternative locations, increasing compliance costs.
Longer product approval timelines: Shipping devices and coordinating testing across countries could add time to product launches.
Changes to supply chains: Manufacturers may need to reorganise their testing arrangements alongside existing production operations.
Pressure for regulatory cooperation: Indian authorities and industry bodies may need to engage with US counterparts to clarify how Indian testing facilities can qualify.
The actual impact will depend on how the FCC implements the rules and whether India establishes a qualifying reciprocal arrangement before the restrictions take effect.
What Is an FCC Equipment Authorisation Test?
The FCC regulates electronic devices that use radiofrequency energy or could cause interference with communications networks in the United States.
Before certain products can be marketed in the country, manufacturers must demonstrate that their devices comply with applicable technical standards.
This can involve testing for radiofrequency emissions, electromagnetic compatibility and other technical requirements.
Accredited laboratories conduct these tests and provide results used in the equipment authorisation process.
For example, a smartphone contains multiple wireless technologies, including cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio systems. Testing helps establish that these systems meet the required technical standards.
The new restrictions change which foreign laboratories can provide testing recognised under the FCC framework.
They do not eliminate the requirement for products to undergo testing. Instead, they restrict the locations and facilities that can perform recognised testing for the US market.
How Could Electronics Manufacturers Adjust?
Companies that depend on Chinese testing facilities will need to review their compliance arrangements before the December 2028 deadline.
Several alternatives could become important.
| Possible adjustment | What it means for manufacturers |
|---|---|
| US-based testing | Send product samples to eligible laboratories in the United States |
| Testing in recognised countries | Use laboratories in countries that meet the FCC’s reciprocal requirements |
| New international agreements | Seek regulatory arrangements that allow additional countries’ laboratories to qualify |
| Supply-chain restructuring | Coordinate manufacturing and testing locations to reduce delays |
| Earlier product testing | Build additional time into certification schedules |
The FCC has also introduced a streamlined approval process for devices tested in US laboratories or laboratories in countries it considers not to pose national security risks.
This could encourage manufacturers to shift more testing activity to recognised locations.
However, building additional testing capacity and establishing new regulatory arrangements can take time. Companies with large product portfolios may need to review their certification strategies well before the deadline.
Why the Decision Matters for India’s Electronics Manufacturing Ambitions
India has been trying to strengthen its position as a global electronics manufacturing hub through production-linked incentive schemes, investment incentives and supply-chain diversification.
The expansion of smartphone manufacturing has been a major part of this strategy.
However, manufacturing is only one part of the electronics supply chain. Testing, certification, component validation and quality assurance are also important for companies seeking access to international markets.
If Indian laboratories face restrictions under the new FCC framework, it could create a gap between India’s manufacturing ambitions and its ability to provide internationally recognised testing services.
That does not mean Indian electronics exports will automatically decline. Manufacturers can still use eligible laboratories elsewhere to complete the necessary testing.
But relying on overseas facilities could increase costs and reduce some of the advantages of having manufacturing and testing operations within the same country.
A reciprocal testing arrangement with the US could help address this uncertainty and strengthen India’s role in the global electronics supply chain.
China Could Face Higher Testing and Logistics Costs
China is expected to be the most directly affected country because of its large share of global electronics testing.
Manufacturers that previously relied on Chinese laboratories for US-bound products may need to transfer testing work to other locations.
This could increase the time and cost involved in product certification, particularly for companies managing multiple device launches each year.
The restrictions may also encourage electronics companies to diversify their testing networks across Southeast Asia, the US and other eligible markets.
However, the transition will not necessarily mean that manufacturers move their factories out of China. Production and regulatory testing are separate activities, and companies could continue manufacturing products in China while conducting US compliance testing elsewhere.
The final impact will depend on the availability, capacity and cost of alternative laboratories.
The Bigger Picture
The FCC’s decision highlights how technology competition between the United States and China is increasingly extending beyond semiconductors, telecommunications equipment and manufacturing.
Testing and certification facilities are also becoming part of the broader technology supply-chain debate because they handle sensitive product information and play a role in determining which devices can enter regulated markets.
For India, the issue presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The country could face additional compliance costs if its laboratories do not qualify under the new framework. At the same time, it has an opportunity to strengthen international testing cooperation and develop its electronics certification ecosystem.
The key distinction is that the FCC has not banned Indian-made electronics from the US market. The immediate question is whether testing conducted in Indian laboratories will qualify under the new rules.
Looking Ahead
The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2028, leaving time for manufacturers, testing companies and governments to prepare. Indian industry participants will need greater clarity on the FCC’s interpretation of reciprocal arrangements and the eligibility of individual testing facilities.
For India, discussions with US regulators could become important to protect the role of domestic testing laboratories in international electronics supply chains. The outcome may influence not only smartphone exports but also India’s broader ambition to become a manufacturing and testing destination for global technology companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why has the US banned Chinese laboratories from testing smartphones and computers?
The FCC says foreign testing laboratories can access confidential product designs and technical information. It has cited national security, intellectual property protection and concerns about the security of communications equipment.
2. When will the new US testing restrictions take effect?
The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2028.
3. Will the US ban smartphones manufactured in China?
No. The decision concerns which laboratories can conduct testing recognised for US regulatory approval. It does not impose a blanket ban on smartphones manufactured in China.
4. Could Indian testing laboratories be affected?
Yes, potentially. India does not appear on the published US telecommunications mutual-recognition agreement partners list. However, the impact on individual Indian laboratories depends on whether they qualify under the FCC’s reciprocal-treatment provisions.
5. Will Indian-made smartphones still be allowed in the US?
Yes. The decision does not automatically prevent Indian-made smartphones or computers from being exported to the United States. Manufacturers may need to use eligible testing facilities to meet US regulatory requirements.
6. What can India do to reduce the impact?
India could engage with US regulators to clarify the eligibility of Indian laboratories and explore reciprocal testing arrangements. Manufacturers can also prepare by identifying alternative FCC-recognised testing facilities.
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