Trump Executive Order Bans Companies’ Use of Foreign Technology Deemed a ‘Security’ Threat

May 15, 2019 (EIRNS)—President Trump today signed an executive order to prevent U.S. companies from using telecom technology produced by foreign companies or countries considered to be a “national security” threat. Although the order doesn’t specifically name China’s Huawei, clearly it is the intended target.

It’s worth noting, as Reuters reports, that this order has been under discussion for over a year and has been repeatedly delayed.

The order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, allowing the President to regulate interstate commerce in the event of an “unusual and extraordinary threat ... to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States” that originates “in whole or substantial part outside the United States.”

Asked about this in today’s Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing, spokesman Geng Shuang charged that for some time now, the U.S.

“has been abusing its national power to tarnish the image of, and crack down on specific Chinese companies, which is disgraceful and unjust. We urge the U.S. side to stop oppressing Chinese companies under the pretext of security concerns and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for their normal investment and operation.”

According to Sputnik, on May 9, the major U.S. telecom carriers—Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile—agreed not to use Huawei on their 5G networks; the next day, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to block China Mobile Ltd., Beijing’s largest telecom carrier, from accessing U.S. markets.

Amid pressures on governments to shun Huawei, the chairman of its board of directors, Liang Hua, announced he is willing to sign a “no spy” agreement with any governments that may be worried about the possibility of spying.