A bipartisan proposal would take a second stab at convincing a key U.S. ally to shun Chinese telecommunications equipment provider Huawei in building out its fifth-generation mobile network.
On Thursday, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the majority whip, introduced the Network Security Trade Act.
While critics have implored policymakers to keep issues of trade and the economy separate from those related to network security, the legislation doubles down on an approach the Trump administration has embraced.
The U.K. officials—along with Germany and France—have decided they can manage any security risks Huawei presents, despite U.S. warnings to discontinue longstanding intelligence-sharing operations. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has indicated intelligence sharing continues with the allies.
“There is a lot of promise with new and advanced technologies like 5G, but the United States can only deliver on those promises if we maintain the security of communications networks, both at home and abroad,” Thune said in a press release announcing the bill. “This legislation would ensure the security of equipment and technology that create the global communications infrastructure are front and center in our trade negotiations, because you can’t have free trade if the global digital infrastructure is compromised.”
The bill does not name specific state-owned companies. But it is clearly meant to target Huawei and other Chinese entities.
“This bill sends an important message to our allies and trading partners that our concerns with Huawei are not fleeting or superficial,” said co-sponsor Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “While we’ve seen multiple Administrations exhort foreign partners ..
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