TP-Link plans US router assembly as foreign-made models face ban

TP-Link plans to begin assembling routers in the United States after a federal ban on new foreign-made consumer routers tightened the rules for selling them there. The move could help the company qualify for regulatory approval to import and sell new models, while also shifting some production and jobs to the US.

The company has signed a letter of intent with manufacturer Key Tronic, with assembly at its Mississippi facility potentially starting in early 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Wi-Fi 8 routers may be among the first products assembled there, but components would still come from abroad. The FCC’s March decision allowed retailers to sell existing stock and offered waivers to companies planning US manufacturing; TP-Link has not yet received one.