Last night Patently Apple posted a report titled "DOJ asks Appeals Court to Pause Antitrust Ruling against Qualcomm on the basis of National Security." According to the Department of Justice, national security could be threatened by a ruling by Judge Lucy Koh in May that found that Qualcomm had broken competition laws by charging cellphone makers high fees for the rights to the company's wireless equipment. Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, wrote in a filing made in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals: that the Defense Department "firmly believes that any measure that inappropriately limits Qualcomm’s technological leadership, ability to invest in research and development, and market competitiveness, even in the short-term, could harm national security."

Earlier yesterday it was reported by Reuters that "Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills on Tuesday to keep tight restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, amid concern about President Donald Trump’s easing of curbs on the Chinese firm.

The legislation would among other things bar the removal of the massive telecommunications equipment firm from a Commerce Department trade blacklist without House and Senate approval, and let Congress disallow waivers granted to U.S. companies doing business with the company.

The United States has accused Huawei of stealing American intellectual property and violating Iran sanctions. The Republicans and Democrats backing the measures said they viewed the company as a security threat.

“American companies shouldn’t be in the business of selling our enemies the tools they’ll use to spy on Americans,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton, one of the sponsors, said in a statement. For more on this, read the full Reuters report.

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