Microsoft Allowed to Export Software to Huawei
Microsoft said on Thursday it had been granted a license from the U.S. government to export software to Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.
“On November 20, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export mass-market software to Huawei. We appreciate the Department’s action in response to our request,” a Microsoft spokesman told Reuters.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump said this week it would allow some suppliers to restart sales to the Chinese telecoms giant, which was placed on a trade blacklist over national security concerns six months ago.
The Commerce Department confirmed it had begun issuing licenses for some companies to sell goods to Huawei.
On Wednesday, a U.S. official said it had received roughly 300 license requests, about half of which had been processed. Roughly half of those – or one quarter of the total – had been approved and the rest denied.
Huawei has been awaiting a license for Alphabet Inc’s Google to supply its mobile services to new models. Without access to Google services such as its Play Store for apps, Huawei phones will become harder to sell to consumers outside of China.
The granting of licenses comes as the Trump administration is working to sign a phase one trade deal with China. But the move immediately met with opposition. A bipartisan group of 15 senators urged the Commerce Department to suspend the issuing of licenses, saying it could threaten U.S. security.