(reposting this comment from the other thread which discusses the same topic, I'm sorry for any trouble that may cause)
From one side, that sure... does have some point. Well, I mean, one could potentially install some kind of a backdoor on the networking hardware they produce, and if it's state-controlled, then it could potentially be a threat.
From the other side, though...
That's crazy. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, or maybe I'm just stupid, I don't know; but at this point, with almost no manufacturing in the USA, this feels like shooting yourself in the foot. Or rather, it's like shooting yourself straight up in the head if manufacturing will not be efficiently (so it can satisfy the demand) moved to the USA (which is a big challenge).
The good news is this domain doesn't call for cutting edge, 2 nm process.
There are more than a half dozen fabs in the US which can produce networking chips like ethernet controllers, line drivers, SOC, etc: Intel, TI, Samsung, et al. If US wanted to onshore routers, we could make it happen.
a router produced in the US from foreign-made parts - like controllers, drivers etc. - is not in the "covered list". Although I admit the wording is vague: "produced in the US".
Will he do this for Chinese manufacturers? I'm not sure, but I think they have a decent market share. If this is true, then, I guess, there will still be some missing supply, at least in the short term.
Now, that's not even the main problem. Imagine if someone did something like this with RAM or NAND. Again, maybe I'm stupid, but this sets a precedent. It's not currently possible to move RAM manufacturing (fully satisfying the demand) to the USA, though, so I doubt anyone sane would try to do so.
From one side, that sure... does have some point. Well, I mean, one could potentially install some kind of a backdoor on the networking hardware they produce, and if it's state-controlled, then it could potentially be a threat.
From the other side, though...
That's crazy. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, or maybe I'm just stupid, I don't know; but at this point, with almost no manufacturing in the USA, this feels like shooting yourself in the foot. Or rather, it's like shooting yourself straight up in the head if manufacturing will not be efficiently (so it can satisfy the demand) moved to the USA (which is a big challenge).