Google whacks Huawei with suspensions following Trump blacklisting

In a huge blow for Huawei’s handset business, Google has reportedly suspended its Android licence.

Visitors attend a launch event for the Huawei MateBook in Beijing. Picture: AP

The Trump Administration has struck a huge blow against Huawei’s handset business, with Google reportedly suspending its Android licence in line with new US government orders.

Reuters reports that Huawei will no longer have access to Google hardware, software and technical services for Android and will be relegated to using an open source licensed version of Android that will be less attractive to its customers.

The new order goes beyond US moves to demand that nations globally do not use Huawei equipment for their 5G installations.

In particular, this represents a huge blow for Huawei which has made inroads into the Android smartphone market with its P30 Pro and Mate 20 smartphones. They have been regarded as among the best in market.

It is understood that Huawei users for now will still be able to use the Google Play store to update their phones’ software as usual. However, soon the China phone maker will have to rely on its own resources to enable updates.

It is anticipated that its smartphone customers worldwide will cease to have access to the Google Play Store and Google apps.

Chrome browser, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, YouTube, Duo and Google Photos would be some of the affected apps.

A Google spokesperson told The Australian: “We assure you while we are complying with all US gov't requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device.”

Google’s action is believed to be in response to a move by the Trump Administration last week.

On Wednesday (US time) the Trump administration issued an executive order which gives the US Secretary of Commerce the power to block transactions in the ICT market that it regards as linked to a “foreign adversity”.

The US government also added Huawei to its “entities list”, which stops it dealing with US suppliers.

“Today, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the US Department of Commerce announced that it will be adding Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and its affiliates to the Bureau’s Entity List,” says a media release by the US Department of Commerce.

“This action stems from information available to the Department that provides a reasonable basis to conclude that Huawei is engaged in activities that are contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interest.

“The sale or transfer of American technology to a company or person on the Entity List requires a license issued by BIS, and a license may be denied if the sale or transfer would harm U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. The listing will be effective when published in the Federal Register.”

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says the action by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, with the support of President Donald Trump, places Huawei on the Entity List.

“This will prevent American technology from being used by foreign owned entities in ways that potentially undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests,” he says.

Google Australia and Huawei Australia have been approached for comment.