AOS settles with US over unauthorised shipments to China's Huawei
The order said AOS engaged in prohibited conduct by forwarding 1,650 power controllers, smart power stages and related accessories to Huawei without authorisation in 2019, the year Huawei was added to a restricted US trade list.
Although the items were foreign-designed and produced, they were subject to US export control regulations because AOS exported them from the United States. Suppliers to companies on the restricted trade list — known as the Entity List — are required to obtain licences.
"This resolution does not impact AOS's ongoing business operations and brings to an end the US government's five-year-plus investigation," the company said. "AOS is pleased to bring this matter to a close with only limited administrative export control charges."
US authorities have been investigating AOS's transactions with Huawei since 2019, the company said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing earlier this year.
In January 2024, the Justice Department closed its investigation without pressing charges. However, a civil investigation by the Commerce Department remained ongoing.
On April 16, 2025, AOS said it received a letter from the Commerce Department alleging violations of export control regulations, and the company met with officials to discuss a possible resolution.
AOS, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, operates in both the United States and Asia, and owns a wafer fabrication facility in Hillsboro, Oregon.
In 2020, the US expanded its restrictions on Huawei, widening its authority to halt shipments of foreign-produced items destined for the Chinese tech giant.
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