Huawei has suffered yet another blow in their efforts to break into the US smartphone market. Retailer Best Buy is reportedly not replenishing their current inventory of devices such as the Mate 10 Pro and will cease selling them once inventory is gone.
The news adds to what has already been a very rough start to 2018 for the Chinese manufacture in the United States. In January both AT&T and Verizon pulled out of carrier deals with the company after being pressured by the United States government to do so. This forced Huawei to look to retail channels like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and B&H Photo. So far, only Best Buy has indicated they will not be selling the device any longer.
The issue with Huawei for the US government is the company’s close ties with the Chinese government. Lawmakers and others are concerned about a potential data “back door” that could leak sensitive information to the government. While no such back door has been found, and that the company sells phones in over 130 countries, has had little impact on these concerns.
Huawei, who also makes carrier network equipment, is unable to sell that equipment here in the United States as it was banned back in 2012.
While this news impacts Best Buy, it does not impact other retailers. The Mate 9 from last year and the new Mate 10 Pro is readily available at Amazon for example and there is no indicator they or other retailers will stop selling them.
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