US-China business group blasts ban on Chinese tech products

The U.S.-China Business Council objected to a law that restricts parts of the federal government from purchasing technology equipment produced by entities associated with the Chinese government.

Lawmakers created the restrictions last month in a six-month stopgap bill to fund the federal government, arguing they were needed to protect national security. But John Frisbie, the president of the China-focused business group, said the new rules are misguided, and urged House and Senate leaders to ensure the provision is kept out of future appropriations bills. "The national security of the United States is critical, but it must not be used as a means of protectionism," Frisbie wrote in a letter to leaders. "Imposing a country-specific risk assessment creates a false sense of security if the goal is to improve our nation's cybersecurity." Frisbie encouraged lawmakers to work with American tech companies on ensuring the security of their supply chains. The U.S.-China Business Council represents more than 200 American companies from a range of industries that do business with China, including Google, Oracle and Best Buy.