Huawei, a leading Chinese technology company. This move comes as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to enforce stricter regulations on exports of US technology to China.
Washington has accused Huawei of being a threat to US national security and of having connections with the Chinese Communist Party, both of which the company and the Chinese government have denied.
The US Commerce Department has informed some American businesses that it will no longer issue licenses for technology exports to Huawei, according to reports from the Financial Times. This shift towards a total ban on the sale of US technology to Huawei comes as political tensions rise between Washington and Beijing, especially over Taiwan, where a significant portion of the world’s computer chips are manufactured.
A US Commerce Department spokesperson declined to comment on the reports but stated that they are continually evaluating their policies and regulations in coordination with other government agencies such as the Departments of Energy, Defense, and State. Huawei has also declined to comment on the matter.
The Biden Administration has consistently tightened restrictions on Huawei, as the threat environment evolves. US Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Alan Estevez, stated in October that the US government is taking necessary steps to protect national security and prevent sensitive technologies with military applications from falling into the hands of the Chinese military, intelligence, and security services.
Huawei has faced US export restrictions on items related to high-speed 5G telecom equipment and artificial intelligence technology for several years. In 2019, during the presidency of Donald Trump, the company was added to a list of entities, which meant that US companies were required to obtain a license from the government to export or transfer certain technologies. Although some licenses were granted to US companies such as Intel and Qualcomm to supply Huawei with non-5G related technology, the recent development suggests a more stringent approach towards Huawei.
