Two U.S. congressional committees, the Republican-led House Homeland Security Committee and Select Committee on China, have escalated their scrutiny of Swiss engineering firm ABB. In a letter dated January 16, the committees urged ABB executives to provide testimony and additional details about the company’s operations in China, particularly its relationship with a Chinese state-owned company, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries. Lawmakers expressed concerns about the installation of ABB equipment on ship-to-shore cranes delivered to the U.S., citing potential cybersecurity risks, foreign intelligence threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities at U.S. seaports.
While ABB initially cooperated with congressional requests, including providing documents and allowing meetings, negotiations have since broken down. The committees insist on ABB explaining its relationships with People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-owned enterprises and question whether the company should be trusted to work on behalf of U.S. government agencies while engaging with entities influenced by the PRC. ABB responded, emphasizing its role in supplying standardized electrical and automation software and hardware for cranes used globally, including in the U.S., and pledged to take the lawmakers’ request for further information seriously.
