Huawei handsets are getting low traction from online shoppers after US blacklist

Huawei handsets are drawing fewer clicks from online shoppers since the United States **blacklisted the Chinese telecom company** , according to PriceSpy, a product comparison site that attracts an average of 14 million visitors per month. [caption id=“attachment_6678251” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”]  Huawei signage are pictured at a mobile phone shop in Singapore. Image: Reuters.[/caption] “It’s not just network providers and tech giants who are turning their backs on Huawei,” said Vanessa Katsapa, UK and Ireland country manager at PriceSpy. “Over the last four days, Huawei handsets have slumped in popularity – receiving almost half as many clicks as they did last week in the UK and 26 percent less on the global stage,” Katsapa said. PriceSpy compiles data from customers in Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK. The United States on 15 May blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods saying the firm was involved in activities contrary to national security. The Trump administration softened its stance this week by granting the firm a licence to buy U.S. goods until Aug. 19. South Korea’s Samsung has gained the most from Huawei’s loss, with 13% more clicks on its products in the UK and Chinese electronics company Xiaomi clocking an 19% increase in clicks on its handsets, PriceSpy said. Samsung was the most popular handset manufacturer followed by Apple and Huawei, it said. “It remains to be seen if this will have a long-term effect on Huawei, but early indicators show that the major manufacturer may struggle to recover outside of China,” Katsapa said. Companies that have either shunned Huawei completely or restricted buying from the company include Google, Softbank’s ARM, Analog Devices, U.S. chipmakers Intel Corp, Qualcomm Inc, Xilinx Inc, Broadcom Inc, Japanese electronics maker Panasonic Corp and BT Group’s EE.