What US trade ban means for Huawei Mate 30 Launch

Huawei’s new flagship smartphone will not be able to use Google apps and services because of a US trade ban. A Google spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the California firm won’t be able to deliver licensed applications such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube for the new device because of sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump.

Huawei is expected to launch its 5G-capable Mate 30 line of smartphones next month, the first major phone release by the company since US trade restrictions against it were instituted. The Chinese telecoms firm has previously used Google’s Android operating system in its smartphones.

Huawei was added to the US Department of Commerce's Entity List in May after the US accused the Chinese company of violating trade sanctions against Iran. Granting the new extension, the department said Huawei was engaged in activities that are "contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests". 

This month the company unveiled its own operating system, HarmonyOS, which it said it could use if it was no longer able to access Android, but it said its first choice was to continue using Google’s platform.

Uncertainty over Huawei's future without Google apps and Android is already affecting its device sales, with carriers in Western Europe turning to Samsung's mid-range devices.