Huawei expects no relief from US sanctions but is confident

The founder of Chinese tech giant Huawei said Tuesday he expects no relief from US export curbs due to the political climate in Washington but expressed confidence the company will thrive because it is developing its own technology.

Ren Zhengfei also said he doesn't want relief from US sanctions if it requires China to make concessions in a tariff war, even if that means his daughter, who is under house arrest in Canada on U.S. criminal charges, faces a longer legal struggle.

In an interview at Huawei's sprawling, leafy headquarters campus in this southern city, the 74-year-old Ren said Huawei expects U.S. curbs on most technology sales to go ahead despite Monday's announcement of a second 90-day delay. He said no one in Washington would risk standing up for the company.

The biggest impact will be on American vendors that sell chips and other components to Huawei, the biggest maker of network gear for phone companies, he said.

Washington has placed Huawei on an "entity list" of foreign companies that require official permission to buy American technology.

"Whether the 'entity list' is extended or not, that will not have a substantial impact on Huawei's business," said Ren. "We can do well without relying on American companies."
"Maybe my daughter will suffer more. But I would rather do that instead having the poorer people in China sacrifice for Huawei's survival and development."