Biden's Raimondo on Huawei Entity List

Huawei's Future in the U.S. Under the Biden Administration

The position of Huawei within the United States has remained uncertain as the Biden administration began its term. During the previous administration, the smartphone manufacturer was included among several Chinese firms placed on the Department of Commerce’s “entity list.”

Raimondo's Stance on the Entity List

Gina Raimondo, nominated by Joe Biden to be Commerce secretary, has provided a potentially clear indication of how Huawei’s status might develop – or remain unchanged – under the new administration. Responding to inquiries from Senate Republicans, the former Governor of Rhode Island suggested the Biden administration is unlikely to quickly remove Huawei from the blacklist.

Previously, Republican members of the House had expressed concerns regarding Raimondo’s views on companies such as Huawei, a position she had not yet fully addressed. They stated their expectation that Senators who previously advocated for maintaining Huawei on the Entity List would uphold their principles.

Clarification from the Nominee

Raimondo subsequently responded to these concerns.

“I recognize that inclusion on the Entity List and the Military End User List typically occurs due to perceived risks to U.S. national security or foreign policy objectives,” the nominee explained, as reported by Bloomberg. “Currently, I see no justification for removing entities from these lists. Should I be confirmed, I anticipate receiving a detailed briefing on these and other entities of concern.”

Continuity of Policy

While not a conclusive statement, this response does not suggest a significant departure from the Trump administration’s approach to the issue. Huawei was initially added to the list in 2019, following long-standing allegations concerning security and potential espionage. The company has also faced accusations of ties to the Chinese government.

The Department of Commerce stated at the time that the action was taken to protect U.S. national security.

Broader Impact on Chinese Tech Companies

The Trump administration actively pursued blacklisting Chinese technology companies, which has significantly impacted Huawei’s financial performance. Other companies, including drone manufacturer DJI and AI firm SenseTime, were also added to the Department of Commerce list. Additionally, Xiaomi was placed on a separate military blacklist near the end of the previous administration.

This demonstrates a wider trend of increased scrutiny and restrictions on Chinese tech firms operating within the U.S. market.