House Bill Would Ban U.S. From Buying Chinese Surveillance Cameras

A bill passed Thursday in the House of Representatives would ban the U.S. government from buying surveillance cameras and equipment from several Chinese companies, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Video surveillance and security equipment sold by Chinese companies exposes the U.S. government to significant vulnerabilities,” said Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Missouri, who offered the amendment to the $717 billion defense-policy bill. She added the amendment “will ensure that China cannot create a video surveillance network within federal agencies.”

The bill names several Chinese companies, including Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., the world’s biggest maker of surveillance equipment, The Journal reported.

A Hikvision spokeswoman said that the amendment was made with “no evidence” to justify it. She said Hikvision follows all the laws in the countries where it operates.

The House bill needs Senate approval before it would become law.

The ban in the bill extends to ZTE Corp., the telecom giant that is facing a U.S. Commerce Department order that disallows U.S. suppliers from purchasing from ZTE.

The U.S. and China are moving closer toward resolving a trade dispute, which would include a lifting of the ban on sales to ZTE, The Journal reported on Tuesday.

• Wilbur Ross: US Could Seek American Compliance Officers at China’s ZTE
• White House Rips Chuck Schumer on ZTE ‘Wet Noodle’ Attack