(a) VCS hardware importers are prohibited from knowingly importing into the United States VCS hardware that is designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of the PRC or Russia.

(b) In the context of this subpart, VCS hardware will not be considered to be designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of the PRC or Russia, based solely on the country of citizenship of one or more natural persons who are employed by, contracted by, or otherwise similarly engaged in such actions through the entity designing, developing, manufacturing, or supplying the hardware.