Trump administration extends Huawei licence through May 15
- Move allows some US firms to keep doing business with Chinese telecoms giant despite it being on trade blacklist
- US Commerce Department seeking public comments on whether it should issue future extensions
The Trump administration said on Tuesday it was extending a licence allowing US companies to continue doing business with China’s Huawei Technologies until May 15.
The US Commerce Department has issued a series of extensions of the temporary licence and had previously extended it until April 1. Huawei, the second-largest maker of smartphones, is also a major telecoms equipment that provides 5G network technology.
After adding Huawei to an economic blacklist in May citing national security concerns, the US Commerce Department has allowed it to purchase some American-made goods in a move aimed at minimising disruption for its customers, many of which operate wireless networks in rural America.
Separately, the US Commerce Department sought public comments on whether it should issue future extensions and asked what was the “impact on your company or organisation if the temporary general licence is not extended?” The Commerce Department also asked about the costs associated with ending the licences.
The department has said the licences allow rural carriers to continue to service customers in some of the most remote areas of the United States.