US Commerce Secretary Claims Huawei Chips are Less Advanced Than American Chips

U.S. Commerce secretary Gina Raimondo said that the chip from the Huawei Mate 60 Pro is not as advanced as American chips, citing that the government's restriction on the telecoms equipment is working.

Huawei has been on the trade restriction list since 2019 due to the national security risk of its direct affiliation with China.

US Commerce Secretary Says Huawei Chips are Years Behind US

In a statement, Raimondo emphasized the effectiveness of the trade restriction against Huawei which allegedly affected the company's capability to produce a more advanced chip for its flagship phone.

"What it tells me is the export controls are working because that chip is not nearly as good, ... it's years behind what we have in the United States, she said. "We have the most sophisticated semiconductors in the world. China doesn't."

The administration has been working on locking out Beijing's supply of semiconductor chips and other tools that could potentially advance China's military capabilities. Suppliers for Huawei had to seek a license which was difficult to obtain to ship it.

US Government Focuses on Technological Advancement, National Security

In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, Raimondo detailed that technology plays a vital role in national security in 2024. "It's semiconductors. It's AI. It's drones. And the Commerce Department is at the red-hot center of technology," she added.

Her department suspended all transactions for semiconductor chips in Russia, which is an important component for drones, missiles, and military tanks. She also shared that after stopping the sale, Russians have been relying on appliances to get semiconductors.

On the other hand, the Commerce secretary clarified that trading with China on goods and services is still supported. However, any technologies that could potentially harm national security are taken down.