Current Affairs
US trade deals may let Washington steer which telecom suppliers poorer countries use
AI-generated illustration
Adapted from Global Voices · EngageMedia
Most US reciprocal trade agreements signed since February 2025 reportedly include a clause on which telecom equipment makers partner countries can use. An EngageMedia analyst argues it could slow internet rollout in countries with large connectivity gaps.
12%share of Chinese equipment in US networks actually replaced between 2019 and 2024
The facts
- 1The US has signed these trade agreements with 10 countries, including Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and El Salvador, and has framework deals with several others.
- 2Most of the deals ask partners to avoid network suppliers that could compromise security or intellectual property in 5G, 6G, satellites and undersea cables.
- 3El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia and Malaysia must also consult the US on which suppliers meet those standards. The author reads this as a way to exclude Huawei and ZTE.
- 4Internet use is 53.4% in Bangladesh and 72.8% in Indonesia. Over 100,000 Indonesian schools lack a connection, and only about 22% of Cambodian schools have working computers.
- 5China has filled the funding gap with below-market loans tied to Chinese suppliers, while the author notes US and EU rivals may lack capacity to replace it. Only 12% of Chinese equipment in US networks was replaced from 2019 to 2024.
Why it matters
It shows how trade terms can shape who builds a country's internet. Governments weigh cheap Chinese-funded networks against dependence, surveillance worries and possible US pressure.
