Washington DC, Aug. 26 -- US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over what his administration said were vulnerabilities in the country's bulk-power system, citing concerns that foreign-produced equipment could be exploited to threaten the US electricity grid.

In Presidential Executive Order 14420, signed on Wednesday (local time), Trump said his "highest duty is protecting the national security, foreign policy, and economy of this country" and determined that foreign supplies of bulk-power system electric equipment posed an "unusual and extraordinary threat."

The administration said the US power grid was critical to national defence, emergency services and the economy, while also highlighting its growing importance to a...