Huawei Sign

Commerce Secretary: Licenses For Companies to Sell Exports to Huawei Are Coming “Very Shortly”

The government has received over 200 requests from American companies to continue doing business with Huawei.

Amid intense negotiations with China over a possible trade deal, some American companies hoping to continue selling exports to tech giant Huawei will be granted licenses “very shortly,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Saturday.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Ross said the government has received 260 requests from U.S. companies that want permission from the administration to sell to Huawei. The company, which provides many parts used in video surveillance and security systems, was placed on the Commerce Department’s “Entity List” in May for national security concerns. Dozens more were placed on the list last month, including several security technology companies like Dahua and Hikvision.

Organizations on the Entity List cannot purchase American software and products without special permission from the government, which Ross says “will be forthcoming very shortly.”

“That’s a lot of applications -- it’s frankly more than we would’ve thought,” Ross said in the interview, referring to the number of license requests. “Remember too with entity lists there’s a presumption of denial. So the safe thing for these companies would be to assume denial, even though we will obviously approve quite a few of them.”

American business will likely take a hit if they are not allowed to continue some business with Huawei, since the company could buy some of its components from competitors in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, according to Bloomberg.

President Donald Trump has expressed support for the licenses in the past. In June, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Japan, Trump said that he had “easily” agreed to permit American companies to continue selling certain exports to Huawei. Later, the president said that he would accelerate the approval process for licenses.

Still, no licenses have been granted to U.S. firms, leaving several organizations in limbo over whether or not they will lose out on revenue from Huawei.

In addition, several rural telecommunications companies have expressed major concerns over the costs of replacing all Huawei equipment with other components. Lawmakers have introduced legislation to help with costs, and the Trump administration granted a 90-day extension for companies to do business with Huawei in August.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.