US curbs on Huawei showing results, says Commerce Secretary.
Raimondo has stated that the chip powering Huawei’s latest Mate 60 Pro smartphone is inferior to American semiconductors. This affirms the success of ongoing US sanctions on components supply to the Chinese tech giant, she told CBS.
Huawei’s unveiling of its AI-powered phone last August with an indigenously sourced sophisticated chip was surprising. It was seen as a sign of China‘s rising self-reliance in core technologies despite Washington’s curbs.
For years, the US has restricted China’s access to advanced chips and manufacturing capabilities due to national security concerns. Huawei was added to the entity list in 2019 during an intensifying tech feud between the top two economies.
However, US suppliers, including Intel, have received special licenses to continue shipments to the blacklisted firm, sparking criticism. Republican lawmakers have slammed similar approvals as not tough enough on China.
When probed about holding businesses accountable, Raimondo stressed that her ministry denies chip exports to China whenever warranted. She revealed without elaborating that the Huawei device’s capabilities are now being reviewed.
Industry watchers say the statement sought to downplay perceptions around Huawei’s success with local manufacturing. However, the debate around decoupling critical areas like semiconductors rages amid the US-China tech rivalry.
