Trump move to ease Huawei sanctions sparks anger, confusion

The US trade agreement with China easing sanctions on Huawei has prompted a backlash from lawmakers over national security concerns amid confusion over how the deal may impact the Chinese tech giant. In the weekend agreement with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump suggested a potentially softer position on Huawei, a sticking point in the trade war.

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Sunday there’s “a good chance” the deal will open the door to “new licenses” allowing more exports to the Chinese firm suspected of working with Beijing’s intelligence services to facilitate spying -- a charge that the world’s number two smartphone supplier denies. Some lawmakers accused Trump of selling out on national security.

“If President Trump has in fact bargained away the recent restrictions on #Huawei, then we will have to get those restrictions put back in place through legislation,” Republican Senator Marco Rubio tweeted. Trump told reporters after the Osaka G20 meeting that US companies “can sell their equipment to Huawei” if there’s no great security problem attached.

“Huawei is a complicated situation” that would be discussed as part of a broader trade agreement, he said, adding: “We have a national security problem.”