Debate: "Should the United States severely restrict Huawei's business?"

The Yes Team

Martijn Rasser
Senior Fellow, Technology and National Security Program
Center for a New American Security

Dan David 
Founder
Wolfpack Research LLC
 
vs.
 
The No Team
 
Paul Triolo
Practice Head, Geo-Technology
Eurasia Group

Erin Ennis
Senior Vice President
US-China Business Council 

In May 2019 the Trump administration took several steps aimed at limiting the business activities of Huawei because of national security concerns. The president issued an executive order banning the sale of Huawei products in the United States, expanding restrictions that were first applied to federal government agencies. Furthermore, the Commerce Department placed Huawei on its “Entities List,” banning American firms from supplying products and services to Huawei. Four days later, the Commerce Department issued a “Temporary General License” (TGL) allowing firms to provide support for previously concluded business. The TGL is set to expire on August 19. These steps represent not only a major adjustment in American treatment of Huawei and potentially American policy toward China, but also how the world should manage the increasingly fraught technology-national security nexus. 
 
This event features a formal debate on the question, “Should the United States severely restrict Huawei’s business?” Arguing “yes” is the team of Martijn Rasser of the Center for a New American Security and Dan David of Wolfpack Research LLC. Arguing “no” is the team of Paul Triolo of the Eurasia Group and Erin Ennis from the US-China Business Council. CSIS’s Scott Kennedy will moderate the debate as well as the subsequent follow-up discussion with the participants and audience about the pros and cons of specific actions toward Huawei and the implications for US-China relations, American foreign policy, and the shape of the global economy. 

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.