Trump administration bans import of new foreign-made routers, citing supply chain and security risks

This file photo shows an LED-illuminated wireless router in Philadelphia on July 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has banned imports of new, foreign-made routers citing supply chain vulnerability and cybersecurity risks.

The newest addition to the U.S. “covered list” targets consumer-grade routers, the boxes that connect home computers, phones and smart devices to the internet. The list is a catalog of communications equipment and services considered “to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the U.S. or the safety and security of Americans,” the Federal Communications Commission said.

“Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft,” the FCC said this week, citing several examples of foreign-made routers that were involved in cyberattacks targeting U.S. infrastructure.

Although some routers are sold by U.S. hardware companies such as Netgear and eero, their production is almost exclusively handled overseas. It is unclear if any of their router production is currently handled in the U.S. or whether foreign-made routers produced by American companies are included in the ban.

The government included an exemption for routers that agencies have granted conditional approval after determining they do not pose unacceptable risks. Producers of consumer-grade routers can still apply for conditional approval.

What does this mean for U.S. residents?

The U.S. FCC said the updated restrictions apply to new device models and that consumers can continue to use previously purchased routers.

However, if you’ve been putting off an upgrade to your home networking hardware, now may be the time to do so.

Router models that were previously authorized by the government are still sold by retailers. Once the stock is gone, you could see shortages — and probably price hikes — as American companies restructure their supply chains, build out local manufacturing and seek U.S. approval for new models.

AP Technology Writer Shawn Chen contributed from New York.

Matt Ott, The Associated Press