Huawei loses another U.S. partner as Best Buy plans to stop selling its phones

Huawei can’t catch a break in a political environment that’s set against it.

According to CNET, Huawei is set to lose another U.S. sales outlet as Best Buy plans to stop selling unlocked Huawei phones. While neither the retailer nor the manufacturer is commenting at this time, Best Buy has reportedly failed to renew its inventory for devices like the Mate 10 Pro, which went on sale in February. Along with Best Buy, the phone is sold at Amazon, Microsoft Stores, Newegg, and B&H Photo Video.

The move comes after both AT&T and Verizon were convinced by the Trump administration, and by public pleas from leaders of the U.S. intelligence agencies, not to sell the phone. Huawei is the number three smartphone vendor in the world, but it has close ties to China’s Communist Party, and there is persistent fear among U.S. law enforcement that there may be unforseen backdoors to allow access to U.S. data. Carriers have been implicitly forbidden from using Huawei network equipment since 2012.

Huawei Mate 10

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
• Huawei Mate 10 series specs
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro U.S. review: Close to greatness
• Join the discussion in the forums
• More on 2016’s Mate 9