Republican U.S. lawmakers criticized the Biden administration on Friday after Huawei, a sanctioned Chinese telecoms equipment giant, unveiled a new laptop featuring an Intel AI chip. Huawei had been placed on a trade restriction list in 2019 due to violations of Iran sanctions, complicating its access to supplies.
Despite calls to revoke licenses allowing chip shipments to Huawei, a license issued by the Trump administration enabled Intel to continue shipping central processors for laptops since 2020. However, the introduction of Huawei’s AI-enabled MateBook X Pro, powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 9 processor, provoked lawmaker scrutiny over the Commerce Department’s approval of chip shipments to Huawei.
Republican Congressman Michael Gallagher condemned the Department of Commerce’s decision, expressing concerns about U.S. technology reaching Huawei. The chips were reportedly shipped under a preexisting license and were not affected by recent restrictions on AI chip shipments to China. This incident adds to the pressure on the Biden administration to address Huawei’s technological advancements, escalating frustrations among Republican China hawks. Despite export restrictions, Huawei persists in innovation, as seen in its recent release of a phone powered by a chip from sanctioned Chinese chipmaker SMIC.
At a Senate subcommittee hearing, the impact of Washington’s restrictions on Huawei’s access to U.S. technology was acknowledged, with an emphasis on preventing its misuse for “malign activities.” However, Republican lawmakers continue to demand an end to approvals for Huawei licenses.
