In Washington, there has been criticism from Republican US lawmakers regarding the unveiling of a new laptop by Huawei, a Chinese telecoms equipment company. The laptop features an Intel artificial intelligence chip.
Huawei has been under trade restrictions since 2019 due to violations of Iran sanctions, as part of broader efforts to impede technological advancements by Beijing. This restriction entails that suppliers to Huawei must obtain a special license before shipping to the company.
An existing license, issued during the Trump administration, has allowed Intel to supply central processors to Huawei for laptop use since 2020. Although some China hardliners urged the Biden administration to revoke this license, it was understood that it would expire this year without renewal.
The recent introduction of Huawei’s AI-enabled laptop, the MateBook X Pro, powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 processor, stirred surprise and dissatisfaction among some lawmakers. They inferred from this unveiling that the Commerce Department had authorized shipments of the new chip to Huawei.
Republican Congressman Michael Gallagher, chair of the House of Representatives select committee on China, expressed frustration, questioning the rationale behind the Commerce Department’s continued approval of such shipments.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the chips were shipped under an existing license and are not subject to recent broad restrictions on AI chip shipments to China. Both the Commerce Department and Intel declined to comment, while Huawei did not respond to requests for comment.
This reaction underscores the mounting pressure on the Biden administration to take further action against Huawei’s advancements, nearly five years after it was initially restricted.
Last August, Huawei drew attention by unveiling a new phone powered by a sophisticated chip from sanctioned Chinese chipmaker SMIC, highlighting China’s technological progress despite US efforts to hinder its semiconductor capabilities.
At a recent Senate sub-committee hearing, Kevin Kurland, an export enforcement official, acknowledged the significant impact of Washington’s restrictions on Huawei’s access to US technology. He emphasized that the aim was not necessarily to prevent Huawei’s growth but to prevent misuse of US technology for malicious purposes.
However, these remarks failed to alleviate frustration among Republican lawmakers, who continue to advocate for an end to approvals for Huawei. Republican Congressman Michael McCaul emphasized the need for a change in policy, expressing disappointment that the promised halt to licenses for Huawei has not materialized.
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