US to extend deadline allowing Huawei to buy from American suppliers

By: Eileen C.

The US is expected to give Chinese smartphone maker Huawei Technologies permission to keep buying supplies from American companies, Reuters reported Saturday.

A “temporary general license” will be extended for Huawei for 90 days, the news service reported, citing unnamed sources.

The company was allowed to purchase some American-made parts in May, shortly after it was blacklisted, because many of its customers operate networks in rural parts of the country. More than 50 US companies have applied for special licenses to sell to Huawei, Reuters said.

An extension would renew the agreement that would otherwise lapse on Monday, and makes it possible for the Chinese company to maintain its existing telecommunications networks and provide software updates for its phones.

Huawei earlier this month unveiled its new operating system, made necessary by US trade restrictions imposed in May that threaten to cut the firm’s access to technologies such as Google’s Android.

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss Huawei and the broader trade war in a call this weekend.