US Prosecutors Take Huawei to Court Over Alleged Technology Theft and Sanctions Violations

Chinese technology giant Huawei is facing a landmark criminal trial in the United States, with prosecutors accusing the company of stealing technology, committing fraud and violating US sanctions.

The trial began on September 9 in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York. US prosecutors allege that Huawei engaged in criminal activities over two decades, including stealing trade secrets from five American technology companies, deceiving banks and circumventing sanctions imposed on Iran.

The charges include racketeering, money laundering, bank and wire fraud, sanctions violations, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to steal trade secrets.

Prosecutors allege that Huawei obtained technology including internet-router source code from Cisco and a robotic arm used by T-Mobile to test mobile phones. They also accuse the company of concealing its operations in Iran in order to move US dollars through the financial system despite sanctions.

Huawei has pleaded not guilty and strongly denies the allegations. The company's defence argues that US prosecutors are portraying isolated incidents involving individual employees as part of a wider conspiracy. Huawei says the case concerns legitimate competition and business activities rather than criminal conduct.

The dispute dates back to Donald Trump's first presidency, when his administration placed Huawei on a US trade blacklist in 2019 and urged allies to exclude the company from 5G networks over alleged national security and espionage concerns. Huawei has repeatedly denied that its technology is used for spying.

China has also rejected the US prosecution. China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing firmly opposes what it described as US efforts to suppress and contain Chinese companies and said it supports Huawei in protecting its legitimate rights and interests.

Huawei has faced other investigations in recent years. Belgian prosecutors launched an investigation in 2025 into alleged bribery involving the European Parliament, while Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada in 2018 on a US warrant connected to allegations concerning the company's business in Iran. She returned to China in 2021 after reaching a deferred prosecution agreement.

The Huawei case comes amid growing technological and economic tensions between Washington and Beijing. The rivalry has expanded from telecommunications and 5G networks to semiconductors, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.

The trial is expected to last about three months and coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned September 23–25 visit to Washington, where trade, tariffs, artificial intelligence and access to advanced technologies are expected to be among the issues discussed.

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