US Department of Commerce Revokes Intel, Qualcomm Licenses to Sell Laptop Chips and Handheld Devices to Huawei

In a major blow to Huawei Technologies, the US Department of Commerce has revoked the license to sell laptop chips and handheld devices to the company from Intel and Qualcomm. This decision was confirmed by Reuters, who did not name the specific companies involved.

According to sources from Reuters, these licenses were granted to Intel and Qualcomm for the sale of laptop chips and handheld devices. This move comes after Huawei released its first AI-powered laptop, the MateBook X Pro, which is powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 processor. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized this move, arguing that it could negatively impact Huawei’s reliance on Intel chips for laptops.

The decision by the US Department of Commerce could have significant consequences for both Huawei and American suppliers doing business with the company. Huawei was placed on the US trade restrictions list in 2019 for security reasons, requiring suppliers to obtain special licenses to trade with the company. While some American companies have received licenses to sell goods and technology to Huawei over the years, this latest development could lead to further restrictions on their ability to do business with the company.

Critics argue that these licenses have contributed to Huawei’s resurgence in the market. Despite US export restrictions, Huawei has launched products equipped with chips from Chinese manufacturers, leading to increased sales for the company in various sectors, including smartphones and smart car components. However, this latest move by the US Department of Commerce could put a damper on Huawei’s success in these areas as well.