The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, a phone produced by the Chinese company under US sanctions, has been released with a sophisticated chip. Despite being on a trade restriction list since 2019 and facing US efforts to limit its semiconductor production capabilities, Huawei’s new phone represents China’s technological progress.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated that the chip in the Mate 60 Pro is significantly inferior to US chips, emphasizing that the United States has the most advanced semiconductor technology globally, while China lags behind. Raimondo’s comments followed the release of the phone while she was visiting China and were interpreted as a gesture of defiance. However, Raimondo refuted this interpretation in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” stating that her restrictions on shipments to Huawei are effective.
The US government has been working to hinder Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductor chips and related manufacturing tools due to concerns about their potential military applications in China. Huawei’s addition to the entity-list in 2019 was part of this strategy, aiming to prevent the company from obtaining sensitive technologies. Despite this, Huawei’s suppliers have received licenses to continue supplying the company with billions of dollars worth of goods. The revelation of Huawei’s first AI-enabled laptop powered by an Intel chip has sparked criticism from US lawmakers.
In response to questions about her approach to large corporations, Raimondo emphasized her commitment to holding businesses accountable and enforcing export controls. She stated that when she restricts semiconductor sales to China, it is in accordance with US policy. The Biden administration has initiated a review to understand the technology behind the chip in the Huawei phone, which represents China’s most advanced semiconductor achievement. However, details of the review process have not been widely disclosed.
Overall, Raimondo’s comments highlight the effectiveness of US restrictions on shipments to Huawei and underscore the need for continued efforts to protect national security interests related to semiconductor technology.
