Tag Archives: Huawei

UK planning to remove Huawei equipment from its 5G networks.

May 23, 2020 By in 5G, Export, Huawei, UK, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
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According to a Financial Times article, the UK is going to remove Huawei from their 5G network and make efforts to remove all Huawei components in the next 3 years. The move by the UK should be welcome news for the US, as Trump administration officials have been pressuring the UK to not use Huawei for their 5G network.

The US has argued that Huawei could build backdoors into network infrastructure and assist in spying efforts by the Chinese government. In the past, the US threatened intelligence efforts between the two countries could be limited if the UK does proceed with the Huawei 5G network.

The recent news developments shifts away from previous UK policy limiting how much Huawei equipment could be used in the 5G networks. Yesterday’s announcement signals a significant shift away.

Other online sources reporting the news also claim the UK response is partially due to public sentiment about China and their handling of the corona virus pandemic.

If your company exports to Huawei and have any questions about compliance with the changing export rules, contact David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Department of Commerce amends direct product rule to restrict Huawei’s use of US technology and software.

May 16, 2020 By in entity list, Huawei, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
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Yesterday, May 15, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced plans to restrict Huawei’s use of U.S. technology and software to design and manufacture its semiconductors abroad by amending the foreign-produced direct product rule. This change to the rule was established to counter Huawei’s acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain software and technology from the US.

While BIS added Huawei and its affiliates to the Entity List in 2019 and therefore requiring US companies wishing to export items to Huawei required the companies to obtain a license. Despite being placed on the Entity List, Huawei continued to use software and technology from the US to design semiconductors, there by getting around the basis for placement on the Entity List. Specifically, Huawei would use semiconductor fabrication facilities overseas that incorporated U.S. equipment.

The rule changes specifically mention Huawei and are written to close the loophole. The full announcement and full text of the rule changes can be found at the Department of Commerce website here.

If you have questions how the changes may impact your company, contact export compliance attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Bill introduced to ban government employees from using Huawei, ZTE products.

May 2, 2020 By in compliance, Export, Export Administration Regulations, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, trade compliance, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment
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Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley will introduce a bill banning US officials from using projects from Chinese companies that have been deemed to be national security threats. In the past, Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have been deemed to be national security threats.

The proposed legislation is named the “Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping Act” and would prohibit federal employees from conducting official business through technology from companies deemed by the State Department to be under the control of the Chinese government.

If passed, the bill would also require the State Department to create a list of companies supported by the Chinese company that could pose a threat and be used to conduct espionage.

This proposed legislation comes one month after President Trump signed into law legislation that barred the use of federal funds to purchase equipment from Huawei and ZTE.

If you have any questions about export compliance or think it’s time to revisit your compliance program, contact experienced compliance attorney David Hsu for a no-cost consultation by/phone or text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

COVID-19 victim? Huawei dropped as UK 5G vendor.

April 21, 2020 By in 5G, Export, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, UK, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
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One fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic is the United Kingdom’s recent decision to move away from China-based Huawei as the company to help build the UK’s 5G infrastructure. Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson (who is currently recovering from COVID-19) gave Huawei the lead in building the UK’s 5G infrastructure.

UK lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative Party’s chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, is quoted as saying: “It’s a shared realization of what it means for dependence on a business that is part of a state that does not share our values,” Tugendhat said.

This is likely welcome news to the US which was very critical of Johnson’s decision last year to go with Huawei – raising concerns by the US that China could use Huawei technology to collect intelligence.

The US viewed Johnson’s decision on Huawei as a major blow to the “five eyes” electronic surveillance alliance among the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. US officials fear China could use Huawei to collect intelligence.

If you or your company does business with Huawei, and you  have concerns about your export compliance, contact experienced import/export compliance attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Potential changes to the Foreign Direct Product Rule may hinder Huawei supply chain.

March 27, 2020 By in Export, Foreign Direct Product Rule, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, trade law, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
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The Trump administration has agreed to changes to the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which subjects some foreign-made goods based on U.S. technology or software to comply with U.S. regulations.  The proposed rule change requires foreign companies that use U.S. chip making equipment to obtain a license before they can supply certain semiconductor chips to Huawei.

The proposed rule change is to limit the number of foreign suppliers who continue to supply chips to Huawei. The new rule will greatly impact Huawei as most chip manufacturers use equipment produc Multiple articles on this subject cite the Taiwan-based “Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company” (TSMC). TSMC is Taiwan’s largest semiconductor manufacturer with over 15 fabs located throughout Taiwan.

If you have any questions whether you are subject to export controls or if you want to know how you are impacted, contact experienced export controls attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

US investigating Chinese telecom giant ZTE for alleged bribery.

March 19, 2020 By in Export, Import Export Attorney, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
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While the news is dominated by the corona virus coverage, the US is investigating whether ZTE paid bribes to foreign officials to gain advantage in ZTE’s operations. ZTE is one of the largest Chinese telecommunications companies and are believed to be closely related to the Chinese Communist Party.

The bribes include allegations of bribery by ZTE in over 12 countries, including but not limited to Algeria, Liberia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

These new legal issues come right after ZTE plead guilty 3 years ago for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea. In 2017, ZTE plead guilty to violating U.S. sanctions, and resulted in ZTE paying a civil and criminal penalty and forfeiture of assets – a settlement costing ZTE over $1.19 billion dollars. ZTE’s probation ended

ZTE’s US headquarters are based in Richardson Texas with the company’s headquarters located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Huawei’s latest license extension cut in half by US government, 45 instead of 90 days.

February 19, 2020 By in Export, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, NDAA, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
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Since May of 2019, Huawei has been placed on the US entity list and therefore unable to conduct business with US companies. However, the Trump administration did permit companies to do business with Huawei through license extensions.

The most recent 90-day extension was granted in November 2019, allowing companies to do business with Huawei until the expiration of 90 days.

Last week, an 45-day extension was granted. After 45 days, and if no further extensions are granted, then American companies can no longer do business with Huawei.

Contact experienced export compliance attorney David Hsu by phone/text if you have any questions how the current prohibitions against Huawei and ZTE will impact your business. Email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

Federal Court rules against Huawei.

February 19, 2020 By in Huawei, Import Export Attorney, NDAA, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment
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Yesterday, a federal judge in Texas ruled in favor of the United States, concluding Congress acted within its powers by including contract prohibitions against ZTE and Huawei in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

Also earlier this week, the government also charged Huwei and a couple of their subsidiaries with federal racketeering and conspiracy (RICO) charges to steal trade secrets from US companies.

The recent decision stems from a Huawei lawsuit filed in March 2019, in which they claim Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act was unconstitutional because it limited Huawei’s business in the US. Huawei’s main argument was the NDAA overbroad in restricting sales to Huawei and violated Huawei’s due process.

Contact experienced export compliance attorney David Hsu by phone/text if you have any questions how the current prohibitions against Huawei and ZTE will impact your business. Email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

Huawei’s Google maps alternative.

January 26, 2020 By in entity list, Export, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
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As you are aware, Huawei’s inclusion on the US entity list means no access Android and the Google Play Store. As a result Huawei has been looking at alternative companies to replace the Google Maps application – and last week, found their replacement.

According to Reuters, Huawei reached a deal with Dutch mapping company, TomTom which will see TomTom providing Huawei access to their navigation, mapping and traffic information.

With the TomTom information, Huawei will create their own proprietary apps for their own Harmony Operating System.

If you have any questions how Huawei’s inclusion on the BIS entity list will impact your business or if you are in need of export compliance, contact experienced trade attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

US lawmaker wants to ban US intelligence sharing with countries that use Huawei 5G.

January 13, 2020 By in Export, Huawei, Import Export Attorney, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
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According to a Reuters article, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton introduced a bill last Wednesday that would stop the United States from sharing intelligence with countries that allow Huawei Technologies to operate 5G network technology.

The Sen. Cotton bill is just one of several legislative efforts against Huawei for potential national security concerns – last year Huawei was placed on the entity list.

The countries and companies that are considering Huawei’s 5G equipment include: Bahrain, Belgium, Britain Telecom, France, Hungary, Norway, Thailand and more.

The countries and companies that ban Huawei’s 5G equipment include: the United States, Australia, Facebook, Google, Japan, Microsoft, New Zealand, Softbank, Sophos, South Korea, University of Oxford, UAE, Verizon Communications and Vodafone.

If you have any questions about the Huawei ban, or want to ensure your exports are in compliance, contact experienced export attorney, David Hsu by phone at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.