Report: Qualcomm and Intel Banned From Selling Chips To Huawei

A recent report from Reuters claims that the US government has purportedly revoked licenses for Qualcomm and Intel to sell chips to Huawei. Although the US Commerce Department has confirmed the revocation of certain licenses for exports to Huawei, it has not provided specific details regarding the companies affected.

If this report holds true, it implies that Huawei may no longer have access to chips from Qualcomm or Intel, which could significantly impact its ability to manufacture laptops. Without chips from these major suppliers, Huawei may face challenges in producing new laptop models unless alternative solutions are identified. However, any potential workarounds or alternative chip sources have not yet been disclosed.

The immediate revocation of licenses raises concerns about the number of recently announced MateBook X Pro laptops that Huawei can sell. The availability of Intel chips already in Huawei’s possession will determine the extent to which the Chinese company can continue to offer these laptops to consumers, as the prospect of acquiring additional chips is now uncertain.

As of now, Qualcomm, Intel, and Huawei have not provided comments on the situation. However, given the evolving nature of this story, responses from these entities may emerge in the coming hours or days. In the meantime, the Chinese foreign ministry has issued a statement expressing strong opposition to the actions taken by the United States, criticizing them for extending the concept of national security and misusing export controls to unjustly suppress Chinese companies.

Huawei Makes A Triumphant Comeback in Chinese Smartphone Market

Huawei’s challenges began in 2019 when it was added to a US trade restriction list, citing concerns about potential espionage. Since then, Huawei’s suppliers have been required to obtain special licenses before shipping products to the company. However, reports indicate that these licenses have now been revoked for Qualcomm and Intel, exacerbating Huawei’s difficulties in sourcing essential components for its products.

Qualcomm and Intel obtained their licenses in 2020, but Qualcomm was restricted to selling older 4G chips to Huawei. Despite this limitation, Huawei continues to pay Qualcomm for licensing its portfolio of 5G technologies as part of a patent deal that remains in effect until Qualcomm’s fiscal 2025. However, it remains uncertain whether this arrangement contributed to the development of Huawei’s latest Kirin chips for smartphones or not.