WEB DESK
US President Donald Trump has said American companies could sell equipment to Chinese telecom giant Huawei, indicating a potentially softer position on a key sticking point in the US-China trade war. President Trump made this comment hours after sealing a tariff truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Talking to reporters in Osaka, Trump said they had discussed about equipment and there was no great national security problem figured in the talks.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s comment marked a material change in the stance toward Huawei, which has essentially been barred on national security grounds from accessing crucial American technology or operating in the US market.
The US fears that systems built by Huawei, the world’s telecom giant, could be used by China’s government for espionage via built-in secret security back doors. Huawei vigorously denies that and says the US has never provided proof to substantiate it.
Asked by reporters in Osaka what was discussed regarding Huawei, a Chinese foreign ministry official said he did not know, but that China would welcome lifting the US ban.