President Trump moved Wednesday to ban U.S. entities from using telecommunications gear from companies with close ties to China or other potential foreign adversaries. The order doesn’t single out specific firms but appeared to target those like Huawei — a Chinese company that members of both parties have long eyed with suspicion. The U.S. fears the Chinese government will use its power and ties to snoop on American interests through the gear, a charge the company has denied. Asked what took so long for it to act, a senior administration official said, “These things take time.” Yet the move comes amid an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. It also comes as Mr. Trump seeks the upper hand in building high-speed 5G broadband networks. The administration does not want American vendors to use Huawei as they build out their infrastructure. It wants European allies to shirk the company, too, and will bolster its argument by moving on the ban first. Under the order, which relies on emergency powers, the Commerce Department secretary can block transactions involving technology that poses a risk of sabotage or “catastrophic” effects on American interests. “The president has made it clear that this administration will do what it takes to keep America safe and prosperous, and to protect America from foreign adversaries who are actively and increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology infrastructure and services in the United States,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Congressional hawks hailed the move as sorely needed. “Chinese telecom companies like Huawei effectively serve as an intelligence-gathering arm of the Chinese Communist Party, and the administration is right to restrict the use of their products,” Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, said. “Chinese components remain a Trojan horse for telecommunications infrastructure around the globe, and the Department of Commerce should deny their adoption entirely.” Yet a Huawei executive scoffed at the news, according to the Associated Press, saying it will not impact the company given its global footprint and growth in Europe after the U.S. labeled it a threat in 2012.
Donald Trump executive order appears to target Huawei
President Trump moved Wednesday to ban U.S. entities from using telecommunications gear from companies with close ties to China or other potential foreign adversaries. The order doesn’t single out specific firms but appeared to target those like Huawei — a Chinese company that members of both parties have long eyed with suspicion. The U.S. fears the Chinese government will use its power and ties to snoop on American interests through the gear, a charge the company has denied. Asked what took so long for it to act, a senior administration official said, “These things take time.” Yet the move comes amid an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. It also comes as Mr. Trump seeks the upper hand in building high-speed 5G broadband networks. The administration does not want American vendors to use Huawei as they build out their infrastructure. It wants European allies to shirk the company, too, and will bolster its argument by moving on the ban first. Under the order, which relies on emergency powers, the Commerce Department secretary can block transactions involving technology that poses a risk of sabotage or “catastrophic” effects on American interests. “The president has made it clear that this administration will do what it takes to keep America safe and prosperous, and to protect America from foreign adversaries who are actively and increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology infrastructure and services in the United States,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Congressional hawks hailed the move as sorely needed. “Chinese telecom companies like Huawei effectively serve as an intelligence-gathering arm of the Chinese Communist Party, and the administration is right to restrict the use of their products,” Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, said. “Chinese components remain a Trojan horse for telecommunications infrastructure around the globe, and the Department of Commerce should deny their adoption entirely.” Yet a Huawei executive scoffed at the news, according to the Associated Press, saying it will not impact the company given its global footprint and growth in Europe after the U.S. labeled it a threat in 2012.
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