PRESIDENT Donald Trump has today issued an executive order banning US companies from using products made by foreign telecoms providers to protect the country's computer networks from "foreign adversaries".
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Mr Trump does not name any company specifically in the order, but it is believed to be primarily targeted to controversial Chinese firm Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer.
US officials argue that using Huawei equipment poses risks of Chinese espionage or sabotage.
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The White House said the president had signed the order to “protect America from foreign adversaries who are actively and increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology infrastructure and services in the United States.”
The intervention is of particular interest to the UK amid plans by the British Government to allow Huawei limited access to help build the UK's new 5G network.
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Details of the decision and warnings from within cabinet about possible risks to national security over a deal with Huawei were reported in the Daily Telegraph.
The reports led to the sacking of Gavin Williamson as defence secretary on May 1 after an internal investigation claimed he was the source behind a leak of top-level information from the National Security Council to the newspaper.
Mr Willamson has denied the allegation.
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