The US government has taken a step towards strengthening national security and protecting American innovation by revoking licenses for companies like Intel and Qualcomm to supply 4G chips for laptops and cellphones to Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies. This move follows the addition of Huawei to a US list of trade restrictions in 2019, amid concerns about technology being used for espionage and military strength.
Intel spokesman declined to comment, while Qualcomm did not respond to requests for comments on the license withdrawal. Huawei did not immediately respond to the situation. The US government has determined that domestic suppliers must now obtain special permits for exports to companies like Huawei.
Huawei’s recent launch of its first artificial intelligence notebook, the MateBook X Pro powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 processor, preceded the withdrawal of licenses. Critics argue that the permits allowed Huawei to recover from the impact of American sanctions, especially following the launch of a new phone with a sophisticated chip from a Chinese manufacturer. Despite the challenges, Huawei’s sales surged in the first six weeks of this year, demonstrating their resilience in the face of restrictions and licensing changes.
