US Commerce Department places China’s Huawei and 70 affiliates on trade blacklist
- Being put on US ‘Entity List’ will make it much harder for telecoms giant to buy parts and components from US companies
- Commerce secretary says Trump backed decision to prevent US technology from being used by foreign entities to ‘potentially undermine US national security’
The US Commerce Department said on Wednesday it is adding Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and 70 affiliates to its so-called “Entity List” – that bans the telecom giant from buying parts and components from US companies without US government approval.
US officials said the decision would also make it difficult if not impossible for Huawei, the largest telecommunications equipment producer in the world, to sell some products because of its reliance on US suppliers.
Under the order that will take effect in the coming days, Huawei will need a US government licence to buy American technology. Huawei did not immediately comment.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement that US President Donald Trump backed the decision that will “prevent American technology from being used by foreign owned entities in ways that potentially undermine US national security or foreign policy interests”.
Separately on Wednesday, the president signed an executive order declaring a national emergency barring the use of telecommunications equipment made by companies that are deemed a threat to national security. While the order did not name China or Chinese companies specifically, it clears the way for an outright ban on products made by Huawei.
