At the time, the U.S. exempted a narrow list of
products and services. That exemption would have
expired Monday, but the Commerce Department
extended it for another 90 days, as expected.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the main
aim of Monday’s announcement is to give
smaller U.S. internet and wireless companies
that rely on Huawei more time to transition
away from reliance on its products.
“Some of the rural companies are dependent
on Huawei, so we’re giving them a little more
time to wean themselves off,” Ross said in an
interview with Fox Business Network.
Other exports to Huawei officially remain
restricted, though it’s not clear how much is in
practice. Those sanctions, for instance, don’t bar
U.S. telecom companies from buying Huawei
equipment. And U.S. semiconductor companies
that supply Huawei have determined that the
export sanctions don’t apply to a significant
portion of their sales.
“Most of the ongoing shipments of U.S.
semiconductors to China are not covered,” said
Paul Triolo, an analyst with the Eurasia Group
global risk assessment firm.
The greater effect appears to be on Google’s
Android mobile operating system, which
Huawei can no longer use in its smartphones.
Huawei has developed its own operating system
as a replacement, though executives say they
still hope to be able to keep using Android.
Huawei released a statement saying Monday’s
extension “does not change the fact that Huawei
has been treated unjustly.” The company said the
extension “won’t have a substantial impact on
Huawei’sbusinesseitherway.”
Image: Leah Millis