USA has revoked some export licenses that allowed companies like the American chip company Qualcomm supply to the Chinese technology giant Huaweias confirmed this Wednesday by the Department of Commerce.
The measure increases pressure on Huawei, which has long been caught in an intense technological rivalry between Beijing and Washington due to US fears that it could be used for security operations. Chinese espionage.
It came after Republican lawmakers urged the president’s administration Joe Biden to block all export licenses to the company following the launch of a new computer equipped with a chipset from the American chip giant Intel.
“We continually evaluate how our controls can better protect our national security and foreign policy intereststaking into account an ever-changing threat environment and technological landscape,” stated a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce.
“We are not commenting on any specific license, but we can confirm that “We have revoked certain export licenses to Huawei.”the spokesperson added in a statement sent to AFP.
The 2019 sanctions that restricted Huawei’s access to US-made components They dealt a blow to its smartphone production – and meant that suppliers needed a license before shipping to the company.
Qualcomm confirmed Wednesday that the Commerce Department “revoked certain export licenses for Huawei in our industry, including one of our licenses.”
“We will continue to comply with all applicable export control regulations,” the company said.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that Beijing “firmly opposed” to measure.
“China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”“added the spokesperson, who described the United States’ export restrictions as “economic coercion.”
The announcement of a new computer from Huawei recently, powered by Intel technology with AI capabilities, drew fire from Republican lawmakers in the United States.
A letter from the legislators Marco Rubio and Elise Stefanik denounced that “the licenses issued in 2020, at least some of which are active today, have allowed Huawei to collaborate with Intel and Qualcomm to keep their PC and smartphone segments alive.”
He criticized the permissiveness of American technology in Huawei’s new product.
The letter added that it was clear that “Huawei, a blacklisted company that was on the ropes just a few years ago, is making a comeback.”
Intel did not respond to queries. Their shares fell 2.8%.
The actions of Qualcomm fell 0.4%.
In financial results released this month, Qualcomm said it had U.S. export licenses that allowed it to sell 4G and other integrated circuit products to Huawei.
But he added that no “expected to receive revenue from Huawei products beyond the current calendar year.”
The company cited factors such as reports that the Commerce Department is considering not granting new licenses for further sales to Huawei, as well as Huawei’s own efforts in launching devices with its own chip products.
In a letter from last year, Michael McCaul Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for the Commerce Department’s export controls on Huawei to be “significantly strengthened.”
“The company can still buy significant amounts of American technology”McCaul wrote.
(With information from AFP)
