EU Plans Phase Out of High Risk Telecom Suppliers, in Proposals Seen as Targeting China

According to Associated Press, the European Union said on Tuesday it plans to phase out gear from “high risk” suppliers in critical infrastructure such as high-speed telecom networks, a move seen as targeting Chinese companies including Huawei and ZTE. Under the draft legislation, telecom equipment from high risk suppliers in third countries would be phased out within three years, and the cybersecurity measures would become mandatory rather than voluntary.

The proposals do not name any countries or companies, but the term “high risk” has been used to refer to China, home to Huawei, which has long been banned from the United States. The bloc’s executive had previously said EU countries were justified in restricting Huawei and ZTE because they posed higher risks, though earlier measures for 5G were voluntary and uneven in application.

Huawei responded that restricting non-EU suppliers by country of origin violates the EU’s principles of fairness and proportionality, while European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen told lawmakers that the proposal aims to protect EU citizens and secure ICT supply chains.