ファーウェイ製品買い替えに補助金、米議会が法案可決

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米上院は27日、国内の通信事業者に中国の通信機器大手の華為技術（ファーウェイ）と中興通訊（ZTE）の製品の使用停止と買い替えを促すため10億ドル（約1090億円）の補助金を盛り込んだ法案を可決した。（写真は英レディングにある中国通信機器大手、華為技術の支社）
　法案は下院に続き、上院でも２７日夜に可決され、ドナルド・トランプ大統領が署名すれば成立する。
　法案は、「信頼できない」供給業者の通信機器の購入や維持に連邦政府の資金を使用することも禁じており、米連邦通信委員会が昨年禁じた内容が成文化された。
　また、小規模通信事業者に配慮し、顧客数が２００万未満の事業者には「国家の安全を脅かす」機器を撤去するための補助金を支給することを認めている。
　貿易をめぐる米中間の緊張は続いており、米政府はファーウェイが中国情報機関とつながっていると非難しているが、同社はこれを否定している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/02-13:12）

US lawmakers have passed legislation offering $1 billion to help telecom carriers rip and replace equipment from Chinese tech firms Huawei and ZTE amid national security concerns.
The Senate approved the measure late Thursday, following earlier House passage, which sends the measure to the White House for an expected signature from President Donald Trump.
The bill also bars the use of federal funds for the purchase or maintenance of telecom equipment from untrusted suppliers, codifying a ban ordered last year by the Federal Communications Commission.
To allay concerns over the impact for small telecom carriers, the bill provides funds to subsidize the removal of equipment that poses a national security risk for firms with fewer than two million customers, according to the text.
Telecommunications equipment from certain foreign adversaries poses a significant threat to our national security, economic prosperity, and the future of US leadership in advanced wireless technology, said Senator Roger Wicker, a sponsor of the measure.
By establishing a 'rip and replace' program, this legislation will provide meaningful safeguards for our communications networks and more secure connections for Americans.
The move comes amid US-China tensions over trade and Washington's accusations of Huawei's links to Chinese intelligence, a charge long denied by the company.
In early February, US officials unsealed a criminal indictment alleging the Chinese tech giant engaged in a decades-long effort to steal trade secrets from American companies.
Huawei, one of the largest global tech firms and a major telecom equipment maker, has also been banned from receiving exports of many US technology products and services.
ZTE, which is also accused of potential ties to the Chinese government, has been fined for violating US sanctions by exporting tech products to Iran and North Korea.