FCC Blocks Chinese Company’s Bid For International Phone Services In The U.S. – NPR
What happened: The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to deny an application by China Mobile to provide international calls and other services in the country. FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the Chinese government would use China Mobile to conduct activities seriously jeopardizing national security, law enforcement, and economic interests of the US. The Thursday announcement came after a unanimous 5-0 vote from the FCC’s Republican and Democratic commissioners.
Why it’s important: The FCC decision is the latest in a series of US government efforts to block a Chinese firm from certain sectors in the country. It also comes at a time when a pivotal round of trade talks between the US and China on Thursday failed to produce an agreement, and new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods took effect Friday. The year-old trade war shows little sign of abating. Tech firms in China have already been impacted while the launch of a new Chinese high-tech stock board hangs in the balance.