After banning Huawei with American companies, the Trump administration is also blacklisting Chinese surveillance company Hikvision, according to the New York Times.
If the ban is approved, Hikvision will not be able to source the components and technology it needs from the US. American companies will have to request special permission from the government to work with the Chinese company and sell their products to it.
For several years, from 2011 to 2017, Hikvision was the largest manufacturer of surveillance cameras worldwide. A survey by IHS Markit showed that Hikvision had a 38% share of the global market in 2017.
The US has created a list of foreign companies that it considers dangerous to the country's security. Huawei has been included in this list and now, it seems, Hikvision will also be included. Companies on this list will have to request special permission from the US government if they want to cooperate with an American company.
Another company considered dangerous by the US is the also Chinese company DJI. DJI is the largest drone manufacturer, holding almost half the market share. The US believes that the company's drones are likely to monitor American citizens and the government and transfer secret information to China.
After the announcement of the US intention to ban cooperation with Hikvision, the Chinese company stated that it hopes to be treated fairly by the US, given that over the years it has never violated the regulations imposed on commercial companies.
It should be noted here that after the New York Times report, the company experienced a drop in its shares.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China opposes the US government's abuse of power and the United States' efforts to discredit and suppress the practices of Chinese companies.
For its part, Hikvision stated that a potential ban from the US would not cause it major problems, as the company also sources equipment from Southeast Asia, as well as other countries.
Hikvision is a very important company, as surveillance systems and cameras are used extensively in China . There are approximately 200 million cameras across the country, which are mainly used for security and traffic control purposes, as well as to catch criminals.
