Huawei Given Another 45 Days to Do Business With US Companies

US Commerce Department has been allowing Huawei to purchase some American-made goods in a move aimed at minimising disruption for its customers, many of which operate wireless networks in rural America.

By Reuters | Updated: 11 March 2020 11:13 IST

Huawei Given Another 45 Days to Do Business With US Companies

Huawei is the second-largest maker of smartphones in the world

Highlights

US extended license to US companies to continue business with Huawei
The license was extended until May 15
US Commerce Department has issued a series of extensions

The Trump administration said on Tuesday it was extending a license allowing US companies to continue doing business with China's Huawei Technologies until May 15. The US Commerce Department has issued a series of extensions of the temporary license and had previously extended it until April 1. Huawei, the second-largest maker of smartphones, is also a major telecom equipment that provides 5G network technology.

After adding Huawei to an economic blacklist in May citing national security concerns, the US Commerce Department has allowed it to purchase some American-made goods in a move aimed at minimising disruption for its customers, many of which operate wireless networks in rural America.

Separately, the US Commerce Department sought public comments on whether it should issue future extensions and asked what was the "impact on your company or organisation if the temporary general license is not extended?" The Commerce Department also asked about the costs associated with ending the licenses.

The department has said the licenses allow rural carriers to continue to service customers in some of the most remote areas of the United States.

US President Donald Trump also signed an executive order in May barring US companies from using telecommunications equipment made by companies deemed to pose a national security risk.

The Trump administration has been urging foreign governments to bar Huawei from building 5G networks.

In November, the Federal Communications Commission followed up by voting unanimously to designate Huawei and ZTE ss national security risks, effectively barring their rural customers in the United States from tapping an $8.5 billion government fund to purchase equipment.

Last month, Congress passed legislation to reimburse telecommunications providers with fewer than 2 million customers who replace equipment in their networks deemed to pose a national security risk.

© Thomson Reuters 2020

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.