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ABB and Zhenhua Heavy Industries collaboration under investigation by US

Photo: Unsplash - Ian Hutchinson US capitol dome
Switzerland-based ABB is facing security risk investigation launched by two congressional committees of US for its ties with China’s leading port machinery manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC).

The US committees sent a letter to ABB to clarify the company's relationship with Zhenhua Heavy Industries as it has raised concerns on intelligence, cybersecurity and supply-chain risks regarding to ABB's software and technology on ZPMC-made cranes installed at the seaports in U.S.

Allowing ZPMC to install ABB equipment and technology in China onto cranes bound for the United States is unacceptable and must be remedied without any further delay, said the letter to ABB by the US committees.

ABB said in a statement that it was reviewing the content of the letter and that it took the committees' request seriously.

US has been engaged in the investigation on ABB’s ties with Zhenhua Heavy Industries since from July 2023.

Regarding to US investigation towards ABB and Zhenhua, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at regular press conference on 22 January, “From accusing Chinese IT manufacturers of leaving ‘backdoor’ in their products to calling Chinese cranes ‘Trojan horse’ that collect intelligence, and to blaming China-produced EV cells for harming US national security, some US politicians have been blowing up the bubble of ‘China threat’, while exposing their real aim of suppressing China’s development in the name of national security. For those US politicians, anything advanced from China can be a ‘threat’ and must be stopped by all means.”

According to ABB, the company supplies software and hardware for cranes used at ports around the world including the US, and its crane-software technology is supplier-independent and installed on cranes made by major crane builders including Chinese companies.