Huawei ban waiver for 'low risk' contracts could be extended past Sept. 30

摘要

The Pentagon says that a waiver allowing some "low risk" Defense Department contractors to continue using Chinese telecommunications and security equipment could be extended past Sept. 30, as the items covered under the exemption represent nearly three-quarters of all DOD transactions. The longer-term waiver would allow some companies to continue skirting a government-wide ban on contractors using Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera Communications. The prohibition went into effect Aug. 13. The office of the director of national intelligence earlier this month approved the temporary waiver for "low risk, high volume items" contracts lasting until Sept. 30, the end of the federal government's fiscal year. The exemption paves the way for a typical surge in fourth quarter DOD spending on items like uniforms and boots to continue unimpeded. However, the Pentagon can provide additional information to ODNI, which could extend the waiver past Sept. 30, according to DOD spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell.