Huawei leader critical of Trump: ‘Plans for a trade agreement are a joke’.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei, criticised the plans of US President Donald Trump. Trump said in a tweet last week that Huawei could be part of a trade agreement between the United States and China.

Trump’s government imposed sanctions on Huawei earlier this month, because the country suspects the Chinese company of the Chinese government’s help with espionage. As a result, the company may no longer purchase parts and components from U.S. companies unless the U.S. government has given permission. The sanctions were temporarily reduced last week to avoid disruptions for consumers.

However, in a tweet Trump said that Huawei and the sanctions could become part of a trade agreement between China and America. This led to speculation that the sanctions are only a means of exchange. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is now responding himself. “It’s a big joke. How are we related to the trade between China and America?” Zhengfei goes on to say that he will “ignore” Trump when he calls. “Who else can he negotiate with?”

Zhengfei also states that Trump’s tweets are “laughable” because they “contradict themselves”. “How did he ever become the master of the art of the deal?”

Revenge

So while Trump may have a plan for Huawei, the sanctions and trade relations between China and America, China also has the option to take revenge on the sanctions imposed. Some people speculate that the country may do so by denying access to the Chinese market to the largest US companies. For example, Apple would have to surrender almost a third of its profits in that case.

However, Ren says he is against such an action. “First of all, this is not going to happen. And should it happen, I’ll be the first to protest. Apple is my teacher, it’s the leader. Who am I, as a student, to go against my teacher? Never.”