Mubasher: Facebook stopped pre-installation of its applications on Huawei devices, dealing another heavy blow for the telecoms company, Reuters reported.

Customers who already have Huawei phones will still have access to Facebook’s apps, including WhatsApp and Instagram, and receive updates, the social media giant told the news agency.

However, new Huawei phones will no longer have Facebook apps installed on them.

The move marked the latest hit for the Chinese tech behemoth, as it struggles to afloat in the face of a US ban on its access to American technology.

The US banned US firms from providing technology to the smartphone manufacturer, within the protracted campaign against the company, on its alleged ties to the Chinese government that enable Beijing to access its telecoms network equipment and other handsets for espionage purposes.

Alphabet’s Google last month said it would no longer provide Android operating system (OS) for Huawei phones, after a 90-day period granted by Washington ends next August.

Current models of Huawei’s phones will still have access to Google’s Playstore and other apps. This does not impact the current models that have not been exported yet or even manufactured.

Unlike Google, Facebook will apply its ban to any Huawei phone that have not yet been shipped, Reuters said, citing a source familiar with the matter.

New Huawei phone buyers will still be able to download Facebook apps from Google Playstore, while future versions will not be able to use Google’s store.