U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen leaving the summit venue after concluding their meeting at Narae-Maru within the 5th Air Mobility Wing of the Air Force in Busan on October 30 last year. [Yonhap News]

The Trump administration has put a hold on a series of key technology security measures aimed at curbing China's influence, ahead of the planned U.S.-China summit in Beijing in April, Reuters reported on the 12th (local time).

According to multiple sources, the measures put on hold by the Trump administration include a ban on Chinese telecommunications company China Telecom's operations in the U.S. and restrictions on the sale of Chinese-made equipment for U.S. data centers.

Sources also said that the ban on the sale of TP-Link routers, Chinese-made, in the U.S., restrictions on China Unicom and China Mobile's internet businesses in the U.S., and the ban on the sale of Chinese-made electric trucks and buses in the U.S. have all been suspended.

These decisions are seen as an extension of the recent trend to refrain from strong measures that could provoke China, following the "trade truce" agreed upon by President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, in October last year.

The agreement at the time was also known to include China's promise to postpone export control measures on rare earth minerals, a key material for global technology manufacturing.

The U.S. Department of Commerce offered a general statement regarding the suspension of these technology security measures, stating without specific explanation, "The department is actively utilizing its authorities to address national security risks arising from foreign technology, and will continue to do so."

Some interpret these actions as an effort to ease trade tensions heightened by President Trump's trade war with China.

However, concerns are also being raised that these measures could threaten U.S. security amid a surge in data center construction due to the explosive demand for artificial intelligence (AI).

Matthew Pottinger, former deputy national security advisor in the Trump administration, pointed out, "At a time when we are striving to reduce China's influence in the rare earth supply chain, it is ironic that we are allowing China to exert new influence over the U.S. economy in the areas of telecommunications infrastructure, data centers, AI, and electric vehicles."

David Feith, who served in both the first and second Trump administrations, also warned, "U.S. data centers could become islands controlled remotely by China's 'digital sovereignty.'"

On the other hand, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. stated its opposition to the politicization of trade and technology issues, expressing hope that this year will be a year of mutual respect and cooperation between the two countries.

TP-Link, which was one of the companies targeted for regulation, retorted, "We are an independent U.S. company spun off from our China headquarters in 2024," and stated, "We adhere to U.S.-managed software and security standards, so the claims of security risks are entirely false."

The measures that have been put on hold were reportedly designed to prevent China from stealing data or disrupting critical infrastructure.

Following the U.S.-China "trade truce" in October last year, U.S. government departments overseeing foreign technology threats were reportedly instructed to "focus on Iran and Russia."

However, Reuters reported that if U.S.-China relations deteriorate after President Trump's visit to China in April, the U.S. may bring back the sanctions it has currently put on hold.