US President Donald Trump has said Huawei could be part of a trade deal between the US and China, despite branding the telecoms firm “very dangerous”.
The US-China trade war has escalated in recent weeks with tariff hikes and threats of more action.
Washington has also targeted Huawei by putting the firm on a trade blacklist.
The US argues Huawei poses a national security risk, while Beijing accuses the US of “bullying” the company.
Last week, the Trump administration added Huawei – the world’s second largest smartphone maker – to its “entity list”, which bans the company from acquiring technology from US firms without government approval.
But Trump has said it is “possible” that the company could be part of any trade agreement with Beijing.
Huawei faces a growing backlash from Western countries, led by the US, over possible risks posed by using its products in next-generation 5G mobile networks.
Several countries have raised concerns that Huawei equipment could be used by China for surveillance, allegations the company has vehemently denied.
Huawei has said its work does not pose any threats and that it is independent from the Chinese government.
The US trade ban on Huawei has already had a ripple effect on the global tech industry, with several companies stepping back from the company.
Trump’s latest comments on Huawei came on the heels of an announcement of a $16bn ($12.6bn) aid programme to help US farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China.
BBC