Key facts
- Robert Bosch will pay $36 million to U.S. authorities.
- The payment is for shipping over $70 million in sensor products and software to Huawei.
- The goods were exported by two non-U.S. Bosch subsidiaries between 2020 and 2024.
- The shipments occurred on over 100 occasions without a required license.
- Bosch stated the violations were unintentional and has enhanced its trade compliance program.
- The U.S. Justice Department declined to prosecute Bosch, which self-disclosed the misconduct.
German technology company Robert Bosch has agreed to pay U.S. authorities $36 million for shipping over $70 million worth of sensor products and software for cell phones to China's Huawei. The U.S. Commerce Department announced the settlement on Wednesday, stating that two non-U.S. Bosch subsidiaries exported the goods and software between 2020 and 2024 on more than 100 occasions without the necessary license.
Huawei is currently on a U.S. trade blacklist, which mandates a license for certain foreign-produced items derived from U.S.-origin technology. Bosch described the violations as "unintentional" and stated that it has enhanced its trade compliance program to prevent future breaches.
The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to close its related investigation and will not prosecute the company, which self-disclosed the misconduct. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg noted that this declination reflects the benefits for companies that promptly disclose potential violations and fully assist in investigations. Bosch will receive credit in the Commerce Department settlement for payments made to the Justice Department, which were also partially suspended.