Trump moves to ban some foreign energy equipment from grid

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Aug 26 signed an emergency order that aims to keep some foreign-made transformers and other critical energy equipment out of the nation’s electric grids on national security grounds. The directive comes amid mounting bipartisan concern that Chinese-manufactured components in the US power system could contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by foreign adversaries. It also follows a series of cyberattacks on US water facilities that have underscored the extent to which the country’s critical infrastructure can be a target. Trump’s order generally bars the US purchase, importation or installation of certain foreign-made, bulk-power…