Republican U.S. Lawmakers Criticize Biden Administration Over Huawei's Intel AI-Powered Laptop

On Thursday, Huawei, a sanctioned Chinese telecoms equipment giant, announced the launch of its first AI-enabled laptop, the MateBook X Pro. The laptop is powered by Intel's new Core Ultra 9 processor, causing concerns and criticism from Republican U.S. lawmakers.

In 2019, the United States placed Huawei on a trade restriction list due to sanctions violations related to Iran. This was part of a broader effort to hinder Beijing's technological advances. As a result, Huawei's U.S. suppliers have been required to obtain a special license before shipping products to the company.

Republican Representative Elise Stefanik expressed her dismay over the unveiling of Huawei's new laptop. She took to social media to criticize the Biden administration, accusing it of undermining U.S. national security by allowing Huawei access to advanced American technology.

Similarly, Representative Michael McCaul voiced his concerns, stating that the approvals for shipments to Huawei must cease. He expressed dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of change in policy despite previous assurances that licenses to Huawei would stop. While the Commerce Department declined to comment on the matter, both Huawei and Intel have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Shipment Approval and License

A source familiar with the situation revealed that the chips used in Huawei's new laptop were shipped under an existing license. It was clarified that the chips are not covered by recent broad-based restrictions on AI chip shipments to China, suggesting that the shipments complied with existing regulations.