# The EU can designate an entire country as a ‘cybersecurity threat’ This would then see companies from that country excluded from sectors across the 27-member union.

*business · news · 2026-04-20 · South China Morning Post*

## Key points

- The EU is considering a law to mandate removal of 'high risk' suppliers from 5G networks.
- This would be the first time the EU makes exclusion of security-risk firms mandatory, not optional.
- The proposed act allows the EU to designate an entire country, like China, as a cybersecurity threat.
- Chinese authorities warned they may retaliate with investigations and reciprocal measures against EU businesses.
- Exclusions could expand beyond telecoms to connected vehicles, utilities, cloud, medical, space, and semiconductors.

**Companies:** Huawei, ZTE
**Countries:** China, EU

[Read the full story on South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350763/china-threatens-eu-firms-over-cybersecurity-plans-targeting-chinese-companies)

---

Canonical: https://newsio.io/n/f04ce008-1891-4e18-a536-b2c009a65aa1/the-eu-can-designate-an-entire-country-as-a-cybersecurity-threat-this-would-then
Summarized by Newsio from South China Morning Post. https://newsio.io/how-it-works