Overview
- The Washington Post reports that multiple U.S. agencies support a potential Commerce Department move to bar TP‑Link routers, though no ban has been announced.
- An interagency review involving Homeland Security, Justice and Defense ran for months over the summer to assess the security risks.
- National‑security inquiries have been underway since at least last year, focusing on alleged ties to China despite TP‑Link’s 2022 separation from its former Chinese parent.
- TP‑Link says it is not subject to direction from PRC intelligence authorities and argues U.S. action would harm an American company.
- Market stakes are high as TP‑Link is a leading U.S. router brand, with the company citing 36% share and a former official testifying to roughly 60%, and the potential ban has been described as a bargaining chip in ongoing U.S.–China trade talks.