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  • January 2020 (Revised March 2020)
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Huawei: A Global Tech Giant in the Crossfire of a Digital Cold War

By: William C. Kirby, Billy Chan and John P. McHugh
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:35
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Abstract

By 2020, Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, had transformed the small telephone switch manufacturer he founded in 1987 into a $120 billion telecommunications company poised to lead the lucrative rollout of fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks. However, an emerging U.S.-China tech war has jeopardized Huawei’s prospects. The Trump administration is waging a global campaign to blacklist doing business with Huawei due to concerns in Washington about the company’s relationship with the Chinese government and the security of its products. As Huawei attempts to answer the litany of questions being asked about its business, the company’s corporate communications and government relations strategies are thrust onto center stage. How can a company so successful technologically—it is a global leader in 5G technology—struggle so mightily in telling its story? What would it take for Huawei to repair its relationship with Washington? Can Huawei protect itself from the crossfire of a growing digital cold war between the U.S. and China?

Keywords

International Strategy; Government And Business; Digital Infrastructure; Political Risk; Information Technology; Infrastructure; Business and Government Relations; Government and Politics; Information Infrastructure; Technology Industry; China; United States

Citation

Kirby, William C., Billy Chan, and John P. McHugh. "Huawei: A Global Tech Giant in the Crossfire of a Digital Cold War." Harvard Business School Case 320-089, January 2020. (Revised March 2020.)
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About The Author

William C. Kirby

General Management
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Related Work

    • January 2020 (Revised March 2020)
    • Faculty Research

    Huawei: A Global Tech Giant in the Crossfire of a Digital Cold War

    By: William C. Kirby, Billy Chan and John P. McHugh
Related Work
  • Huawei: A Global Tech Giant in the Crossfire of a Digital Cold War By: William C. Kirby, Billy Chan and John P. McHugh
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