Washington, DC – The Biden administration has taken a strong stance against Chinese telecoms equipment company Huawei by revoking export licenses that allowed Intel and Qualcomm to supply semiconductors to the company. The move, made by the US Department of Commerce, aims to increase pressure on Huawei and restrict the supply of chips for their laptop computers and mobile phones, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Although the specific US companies affected by this decision were not named, the commerce department confirmed the revocation of certain licenses for exports to Huawei. This action reflects the US government’s commitment to protecting national security and foreign policy interests amidst evolving technological threats and a changing threat landscape.

Furthermore, industry experts have noted that this move underscores the US government’s serious approach to national security threats posed by Chinese technology. The decision also signals a firm stance that is unlikely to be softened in the future, according to export control expert Meghan Harris of Beacon Global Strategies.

The concern over Huawei’s ability to develop advanced chips despite existing export controls has prompted Republican lawmakers to press for stricter measures against the Chinese company. Reports of Huawei using chips from Intel in their laptops have raised alarms, leading to calls for more proactive measures to deny Chinese companies critical technologies.

This recent development comes amid efforts by the US to rally allies in Europe and Asia to tighten restrictions on chip-related technology exports to China, driven by growing apprehension about Huawei. In response to these actions, the Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the move as “economic bullying” and a departure from fair competition principles.

As tensions escalate between the US and China over technology exports, the implications of the Biden administration’s decision to revoke export licenses to Huawei remain a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny. The repercussions of this move could have far-reaching effects on global industrial and supply chains, highlighting the complexities of the current international economic landscape.