A U.S. ban of China Telecom (Americas) Corp. by regulators signals an escalation of tensions as the world¡¯s two largest economies clash over issues ranging from COVID-19 to cyberespionage and computer chips.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday voted 4-0 to cancel permission to operate in the U.S. for the unit of China Telecom, one of three leading communications providers in China.

Though the company doesn¡¯t do a lot of business in the U.S., being barred from the market is significant on the heels of moves against other giants of China¡¯s burgeoning technology industry ¡ª including its crown jewel, Huawei Technologies Co.