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Through an executive order that invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, President Trump declared a national emergency that bars U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by firms posing a national security risk, Reuters reported.
The order does not specifically name any country or company, but U.S. officials have previously labeled Huawei a “threat” and actively lobbied allies to not using Huawei network equipment in next generation 5G networks.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this week his nation’s aim is not to block Huawei, while Bloomberg reported in April that the country’s parliament enacted a law to require Huawei and other gear makers to divulge a lot more information on their equipment than in the past and be subjected to testing. The bill allows Macron to reject non-EU equipment if it comes from a state-controlled supplier.
Trump’s declaration follows his signing of a bill that barred the U.S. government itself from using Huawei products as well as equipment from ZTE Corp., another Chinese manufacturer, in August. Washington believes equipment made by Huawei could be used by the Chinese state to spy.
Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, is the first Chinese brand to break into the top ranks of global technology suppliers. Two years ago, AP reported the company was looking forward to expanding its U.S. business.
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