Trump bans certain foreign technology in U.S. power grid

U.S. President Donald Trump has banned the use of certain foreign-made electrical equipment within the nation's power grid, declaring a "national emergency." The White House stated that an "unusual and extraordinary foreign threat" exists concerning bulk power systems, posing potential vulnerabilities to national security.

The executive order prohibits the purchase or installation of specific foreign-made electrical equipment for bulk power systems. This ban also extends to associated critical software and digital functions that could present cybersecurity or operational risks, according to the White House.

Furthermore, the order directs the U.S. Secretary of Energy to establish regulations for the continued use and operation of such equipment. These regulations aim to address the concerns identified by the Trump administration regarding potential security risks.

This directive follows a European Commission decision earlier this year to ban Chinese-made inverters in publicly funded energy projects. U.S. experts had previously examined devices connected to the power grid, discovering unauthorized communication devices in some Chinese solar inverters that were not listed in the product documentation, raising further security questions.