Department of Commerce Extends Comment Period for Huawei TGL

In response to requests by members of the industry, the Department of Commerce extended the period of time allowed for comment publics on Huawei’s Temporary General License extension. According to a statement from the Department, The Bureau of Industry and Security is “seeking input on the continuing need for, and scope of, possible future extensions of the Temporary General License (TGL) for Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and its non-U.S. affiliates on the Entity List.”

According to a documentation on the Bureau’s website, the TGL is used to temporarily allow Huawei to continue to operate in the United States “while allowing time for affected companies and persons to identify and shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology.”

The Department of Commerce originally issued Huawei’s first Temporary General License effective in May 2019. Since then, the Department has extended the license’s effectiveness to give affected businesses time to adopt other sources. Most recently, in March, the license was extended through to May 15, 2020. According to the announcement extending the public comment period, that date has not been changed.

The USA has repeatedly tried to dissuade businesses from using Huawei technology, alleging that the Chinese telecommunications giant is a puppet of the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied any such government involvement.

In March of 2019, Huawei sued the US government, alleging that the state had violated its Constitutional rights by banning government contractors from using Huawei technology. In February 2020, a judge dismissed the lawsuit before allowing it to go to trial, on the grounds that the US government was allowed to choose its contractors as it pleased. Additionally, earlier that month, the US Department of Justice charged Huawei with racketeering and illegal trade with North Korea and Iran. Huawei denied all wrongdoing.