US bars its companies from using foreign telecom equipment

Washington, May 16: US President Donald Trump has barred American companies from using foreign-made telecom equipment posing a national security threat. Trump has signed an executive order in this regard. The order did not directly name any country or company, but officials have previously termed Chinese giant Huawei a threat and asked allies not to buy equipment for the next-generation 5G networks from the world's largest provider of telecommunications.

 

It declared a national economic emergency that empowers the government to ban the technology and services of "foreign adversaries" deemed to pose "unacceptable risks" to national security — including from cyber espionage and sabotage. While the order did not name specific countries or companies, it followed months of U.S. pressure. It has given the Department of Commerce 150 days to come up with regulations.

The move comes amid an escalating trade war between the US and China. Huawei has termed the executive order as unreasonable, saying that the US is infringing upon the firm's rights.

 

The telecom giant, in a statement, said that restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the country more secure or strong. It added that the order will only serve to limit the US to inferior and more expensive alternatives.