USA: Sales ban for TP-Link routers becomes increasingly likely

Chinese manufacturer TP-Link faces a sales ban for its routers in the USA. The reason cited is a security risk posed by the devices. However, it is currently unclear whether the White House, in light of the trade talks with China that US President Donald Trump described as positive, wants to risk a new confrontation with a ban.

More than half a dozen US federal agencies support a proposal to ban the sale of the best-selling home routers in the United States. As the Washington Post reports, the agencies cite security risks due to the mainland China connections of the Chinese manufacturer TP-Link. The US Department of Commerce conducted an interagency risk assessment. This concluded that a ban would be justified for national security reasons.

TP-Link dominates the US market for routers in private households and small businesses with an estimated market share of 50 percent. The company itself estimated its market share at only one-third.

The security concerns span several areas: TP-Link is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. This means the company is subject to Chinese national security laws, which can compel companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies. Furthermore, security vulnerabilities in TP-Link products have been repeatedly discovered in the past. The company is accused of not responding adequately to reported vulnerabilities.

US security agencies consider it particularly problematic that TP-Link routers are often used in critical infrastructure. The devices are found not only in millions of private households but also in small businesses, government offices, and other sensitive areas. A coordinated attack via compromised routers could cause significant damage.

TP-Link rejects allegations

Specific evidence of active surveillance or built-in backdoors in TP-Link devices was not mentioned in the publicly available information. The risk assessment is based more on the potential for misuse due to legal and business connections to China. The US Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and other agencies were involved in the assessment.

According to the Washington Post, TP-Link responded to the allegations with a statement emphasizing that it strictly adheres to all applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which it operates. The company stated that it works with US authorities and takes security “very seriously.”

Case reminiscent of ZTE and Huawei

The planned ban would not be the first action by US authorities against Chinese manufacturers. In 2022, Huawei and ZTE were effectively excluded from the US market. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) classified both companies as an “unacceptable threat” to national security. Additionally, the US further tightened its export controls against Chinese companies, meaning subsidiaries of companies are now automatically subject to trade restrictions.

Existing TP-Link devices would not initially be affected by a sales ban but could face problems with software updates and support in the medium term. The Department of Commerce could also impose restrictions on firmware updates.

No comparable ban plans against TP-Link have become known in Europe or Germany so far.

(mki)