US eases some restrictions on China's Huawei to keep networks operating

The US government on Monday temporarily eased some trade restrictions imposed last week on China's Huawei, a move that sought to minimise disruption for the telecom company's customers around the world.

The US Commerce Department will allow Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to purchase American-made goods in order to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei handsets.

The company is still prohibited from buying American parts and components to manufacture new products without license approvals that likely will be denied.

The new authorisation is intended to give telecommunications providers that rely on Huawei equipment time to make other arrangements, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

The authorisation, which is in effect for 90 days, suggests changes to Huawei's supply chain may have immediate, far-reaching and unintended consequences for its customers.

"The goal seems to be to prevent internet, computer and cell phone systems from crashing," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former Commerce Department official. "This is not a capitulation. This is housekeeping."

Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Commerce Department said it will evaluate whether to extend the exemptions beyond 90 days.

On Thursday, the US Commerce Department added Huawei and 68 entities to an export blacklist that makes it nearly impossible for the Chinese company to purchase goods made in the United States.

The companies on the list are deemed to be engaged in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.

Reuters reported Friday that the department was considering a temporary easing, citing a government spokeswoman.

Monday's announcement said the authorisation was created as a temporary general license, in effect until Aug 19.

The license also allows disclosures of security vulnerabilities and for Huawei to engage in the development of standards for future 5G networks.

Reuters reported Sunday that Alphabet Inc’s Google suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services, except those publicly available via open source licensing, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new authorisation.

Out of US$70 billion Huawei spent buying components in 2018, someUS$11 billion went to US firms, including Qualcomm, Intel Corp and Micron Technology Inc.

"This is a reality check," said Washington trade lawyer Douglas Jacobson. "It shows how pervasive Huawei goods and technology are around the globe and if the US imposes restrictions, that has impact."

Jacobson said the effort to keep existing networks operating appeared aimed at telecom providers in Europe and other countries where Huawei equipment is pervasive.

The move also could assist mobile service providers in thinly populated areas of the US, such as Wyoming and eastern Oregon, that purchased network equipment from Huawei in recent years.

Wolf, the former Commerce official, said the temporary license was similar to action taken by the department in July to prevent systems from crashing after the US banned China's ZTE Corp, a smaller Huawei rival, from buying American-made components in April.

The US trade ban on ZTE wreaked havoc at wireless carriers in Europe and South Asia, sources told Reuters at the time.

The ban on ZTE was lifted July 13 after the company struck an agreement with the Commerce Department, that included a US$1 billion fine, plus US$400 million in escrow and replacement of its board of directors and senior management. 

ZTE, which had ceased major operations as a result of the ban, then resumed business.

- Reuters