U.S. lawmakers push for blacklisting China’s Huawei, SMIC

A group of senior U.S. House Republicans, including chairs of various committees, has called on the Biden administration to take a tougher stance on Huawei and China’s leading semiconductor firm, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). This move comes after reports indicated that Huawei has developed an advanced smartphone.

The lawmakers have urged the Commerce Department to stop granting licenses to Chinese government-controlled companies like SMIC. They have called for additional pressure and more effective export controls on U.S. adversaries.

In their letter, the lawmakers have called on the administration to “strategically bar the import of SMIC-produced semiconductors, particularly those that pose risks to national security, into the United States.” They also called for the administration to “pursue criminal charges against executives from SMIC and Huawei.”

Huawei and SMIC have not yet responded to these requests.

The Commerce Department, which is responsible for handling such matters, has not provided immediate comments on this letter but did mention recently that it’s working to obtain more information about the chip in question.

Huawei was added to a trade blacklist in 2019 due to national security concerns, while SMIC was added to the entity list in 2020 over concerns about technology diversion to military users. Despite being on these trade lists, some suppliers have received licenses worth billions of dollars to sell U.S. technology to these companies.

The House letter also requested that the Commerce Department “revoke all existing licenses for SMIC and Huawei.”

The ongoing concerns about these Chinese companies reflect broader tensions in the tech and trade relationship between the U.S. and China.

Elevate your business with QU4TRO PRO!

Gain access to comprehensive analysis, in-depth reports and market trends.

Interested in learning more?

Sign up for Top Insights Today

Top Insights Today delivers the latest insights straight to your inbox.

You will get daily industry insights on

Oil & Gas, Rare Earths & Commodities, Mining & Metals, EVs & Battery Technology, ESG & Renewable Energy, AI & Semiconductors, Aerospace & Defense, Sanctions & Regulation, Business & Politics.

By clicking subscribe you agree to our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions of use.

Read more insights

Taiwan’s three-way election race with global implications unfolds

Taiwanese voters are heading to the polls in a closely watched election that has significant implications for the geopolitics of the region. The three-way race involves candidates from Taiwan’s two main political camps—the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition…

Power price whiplash lures commodity merchants into Europe’s battery market

The rapid expansion of large-scale battery storage in Europe marks a structural shift in the energy and commodity trading landscape, driven by the volatility created by renewable generation’s intermittency. Traders like Castleton Commodities International (CCI), Vitol, and Trafigura, historically focused on oil, gas, and metals, are positioning themselves as major players in electricity markets by investing directly in battery assets, effectively creating the power-sector equivalent of oil storage hubs.

Negative power prices, increasingly common as solar and wind output overwhelms grids during peak generation hours, are creating conditions ideally suited to storage arbitrage. Batteries allow traders to capture value by charging during surplus periods and selling during shortages, a dynamic amplified by Europe’s rapid build-out of renewables and lagging grid flexibility.

China’s economic challenges deepen as foreign investors reconsider long-term prospects

The global business landscape is undergoing a transformation as companies reevaluate their reliance on Chinese suppliers and implement diversification strategies. Geopolitical concerns, a slowing Chinese economy, and the ongoing impact of trade tariffs have prompted many…

Stay informed

error: Content is protected !!