US Reportedly Delaying Decisions on Huawei-Related Export License Applications

The White House is delaying decisions on Huawei export licenses after China announced it was suspending purchases of U.S. agricultural products, Bloomberg reported Aug. 8. President Donald Trump announced in June that the U.S. planned to loosen restrictions on Huawei, but that promise was contingent on China increasing U.S. agricultural purchases, Bloomberg said. In an Aug. 1 tweet, Trump said China is not buying enough agricultural goods and announced a 10 percent tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Speaking with reporters Aug. 9, Trump said the U.S. will stop doing business with Huawei but did not give a reason. “We’re not going to do business with Huawei. We’re not doing business with them. And I really made the decision," Trump said. "It's much simpler not to do any business with Huawei, so we're not doing business with Huawei."

But Trump left open the possibility of the U.S. lifting restrictions on Huawei if the U.S. reaches a trade deal with China. “We’re not doing business with Huawei, but that doesn't mean we won't agree to something if and when we make a trade deal,” he said. At Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security export controls conference on July 9, both Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Acting Undersecretary for Industry and Security Nazak Nikakhtar said the agency was planning to roll back export restrictions to Huawei. Nikakhtar said the agency was reviewing export applications from U.S. companies and hoped to have decisions “soon” (see 1907090068). Commerce did not comment.