The United States has strongly criticized India’s Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec) in its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. ComSec, implemented in 2023, mandates that telecom equipment like routers, WiFi access points, switches, and firewalls comply with Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements, including third-party testing at Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) within India. The US claims these requirements impose high costs and regulatory burdens on international manufacturers, especially as they often involve outdated, country-specific standards and demand disclosure of proprietary information such as source code.
US Urges India to Ease Telecom Testing Norms and Recognize Global Standards
In addition to ComSec, the report also opposes India’s Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE), in place since 2019. The MTCTE’s scope expanded in 2021 to cover 175 products, creating further hurdles for US tech firms. The US Trade Representative (USTR) stressed continued concerns from American industry about in-country testing and has urged India, through bilateral and multilateral platforms, to reconsider its policies. Key demands include the recognition of International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)-accredited labs, harmonization of labelling standards with global norms, elimination of duplicate testing, and aligning certification validity periods.
India’s Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) is the agency overseeing these test regimes, with 71 approved labs and specific “essential requirements” for 65 types of telecom equipment. The US also recommends that India adopt the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), which allows international mutual recognition of IT security certifications.
US Criticizes India’s Mandatory Electronics Testing Despite Global Certifications
Furthermore, the report criticized the Compulsory Registration Order issued by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), active since 2014, which mandates domestic testing and BIS registration for products like laptops and POS machines—even if these have been tested by globally recognized labs. The order now covers 63 electronic product categories, drawing ongoing opposition from the US.
Summary:
The US criticized India’s telecom and electronics testing mandates, citing high costs and regulatory barriers. It urged India to recognize international certifications, reduce duplicate testing, and align with global standards. Concerns were raised over ComSec, MTCTE, and Meity’s testing rules, affecting over 200 tech and electronic product categories.
