WASHINGTON, United States: The United States has revoked some export licenses that allowed companies such as US chip firm Qualcomm to supply Chinese technology giant Huawei, the Commerce Department confirmed on Wednesday.
The move increases pressure on Huawei, which has long been caught in an intense technology rivalry between Beijing and Washington over US concerns that it could be used for Chinese spying operations.
This comes after Republican lawmakers urged President Joe Biden’s administration to block all export licenses for the company following the release of a new computer powered by a chipset from US giant Intel.
“We are constantly evaluating how our controls can best protect our national security and foreign policy interests while taking into account the ever-changing threat landscape and technology environment,” a Commerce Department spokesman said.
“We do not comment on any specific licenses, but we can confirm that we have withdrawn certain licenses for exports to Huawei,” the spokesman added in a statement.
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Sanctions in 2019 restricting Huawei’s access to US-made components dealt a major blow to its smartphone production – and meant that suppliers needed a license before shipping to the company.
Qualcomm confirmed on Wednesday that they will continue complying with all export control regulations in vogue.
A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said Beijing “strongly rejects” the move.
He added that China will take all necessary measures to fully protect the legitimate rights of Chinese companies as he called the U.S. export restrictions “economic coercion.”
