U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a national emergency and barring U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by firms posing a national security risk. The executive order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president the authority to regulate commerce in response to a national emergency that threatens the United States. The order does not specifically name any country or company, but U.S. officials have previously labelled Huawei a "threat." Huawei, which has repeatedly denied such allegations, did not immediately comment on the executive order. Washington believes equipment made by Huawei could be used by the Chinese state to spy — an allegation the Chinese company has repeatedly denied.

Source: CBC News May 15, 2019 22:07 UTC