Why Huawei laptop launch in China has ‘angered’ US lawmakers

Lawmakers in the US are unhappy and criticised the Biden administration after Chinese telecom giant Huawei unveiled a laptop powered by an Intel AI chip this week.

Huawei launched MateBook X Pro laptop, powered by Intel's new Core Ultra 9 processor. The launch raised concerns among Republicans as they believe it suggests the Commerce Department approved shipments of the new AI chip to Huawei.

Republican Representative Elise Stefanik stated on social media that the laptop proves the Commerce Department approved these shipments.

“It is unacceptable that the Biden Administration is actively working to undermine U.S. national security by allowing our greatest strategic adversary access to cutting edge American technology,” Stefanik said in a post on X.



According to a report by Reuters, Republican representative Michael McCaul said that these approvals must stop and that the policy hasn't changed as promised.

"Two years ago, I was told licenses to Huawei would stop. Today, it doesn’t seem as though the policy has changed," McCaul was quoted as saying.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the news agency clarified that the chips were shipped under an existing licence and aren't covered by recent restrictions on AI chip shipments to China.

Trade restrictions by the US

The US placed Huawei on a trade restriction list in 2019 for violating sanctions related to Iran. This restricts US suppliers from selling to Huawei without a special licence.

One such licence, issued by the Trump administration, allowed Intel to ship central processors to Huawei for laptops. Although some advocated for revoking this licence, many others accepted that it will expire this year and will not be renewed.