Kevin Wolf Quoted in The Wall Street Journal and Reuters on U.S. Blacklist of Huawei

The Wall Street Journal has quoted Akin Gump international trade partner Kevin Wolf in the article “Huawei Plans Extensive Layoffs in the U.S.” The move, according to the article, comes as the Chinese tech giant continues to struggle with its blacklisting by the Trump administration.

According to the article, the blacklisting has affected Huawei’s ability to purchase U.S. components and software for its products, In addition, the company’s U.S.-based research and development subsidiary, Futurewei Technologies, will likely be affected as well since it’s research and development efforts could be seen as U.S.-sourced technology under Huawei’s entity listing.

Under the listing’s rules, “any unlicensed transfer of any technology of any sort by anyone from the U.S. to Huawei is prohibited,” said Wolf, who served in the Commerce Department during the Obama administration.

Meanwhile, in the article “Exclusive: U.S. firms may get nod to restart Huawei sales in two-four weeks – official,” Reuters reports that the United States may approve licenses for companies to re-start new sales to Huawei in as little as two weeks. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the article says, suggested that the licenses would be issued where there is no threat to national security. As a result, some chipmakers are already applying for them.

“Since there’s no downside, companies are absolutely submitting applications, as required by the regulations,” said Wolf.