Advertisement

Huawei to shift research facilities from hostile US to Canada, founder Ren Zhengfei says

  • Chinese tech giant also considering building new factories in Europe to make 5G equipment
  • Huawei has already added 300 employees in Canada this year, while its US research arm, Futurewei, has trimmed its staff by 600

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei says the company will shift its focus of development towards Canada. Photo: Kyodo

Chinese tech giant Huawei, facing US criminal charges and economic sanctions, is planning to relocate its telecommunications research facilities from the United States to Canada, founder Ren Zhengfei said in an interview published on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Speaking with the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, Ren said the company was also considering building new factories in Europe to make fifth-generation, or 5G, equipment.

The pivot comes as Washington steps up pressure on allies to ban Huawei components from 5G networks, warning that it may be used by Beijing for spying or hacking.

Canada is reviewing the technology but has not announced a decision.

Huawei’s centre for research and development “will be moved out of the United States and will be relocated to Canada”, Ren said.

Advertisement