Some Huawei suppliers get US approval to restart sales to blacklisted firm
- Special licences granted in cases where items are readily available and do not compromise national security
- US Commerce Department received close to 300 requests and has begun sending out approvals and ‘intent to deny’ notices
The US government said on Wednesday it has begun issuing licences for some companies to supply goods to China’s blacklisted telecommunications firm Huawei, providing long-awaited clarity to the industry.
It was not immediately clear which products had been approved for sale, but the move granted much-needed certainty to US companies that last year made billions of dollars in sales to Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecoms equipment maker.
Huawei, also the second largest smartphone maker, has been anxiously awaiting a licence for Google to supply its Android mobile operating system as it launches new models.
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business Network late on Tuesday that the department has “had 290-something requests for specific licences. We now have been starting to send out the 20-day intent to deny letters and some approvals.”