US prosecutors accused Chinese telecommunications company Huawei of theft and fraud as its trial opened in Brooklyn federal court, while the defence argued the case is about competition, not conspiracy.
Key facts
- A US prosecutor described Huawei as a criminal enterprise during opening statements.
- The trial began in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday.
- DOJ trial attorney Taylor Stout accused Huawei of 'theft, lies, cover-up' over 20 years.
- The defence argued the case is 'about competition, not conspiracy.'
A US prosecutor described China’s Huawei as a criminal enterprise that stole from US companies to build its telecommunications empire, as the trial against the tech company opened in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, according to the Guardian.
“Theft, lies, cover-up,” Taylor Stout, a trial attorney from the US Department of Justice, said in the government’s opening statement. “For 20 years, that’s how Huawei, a massive Chinese telecommunications company, victimized American companies and abused the American financial system, all in an effort to dominate the telecommunications industry around the world.”
The government’s case, as outlined in its opening statement, centres on allegations that the company engaged in theft and deception over two decades in a bid to dominate the global telecommunications industry.
The defence framed the dispute in different terms. According to the Guardian, its position is that the case is “about competition, not conspiracy” — pushing back against the prosecution’s portrayal of Huawei as a criminal operation.
The allegations have not been proven, and the trial is at an early stage. The Guardian’s report does not detail the specific charges or the expected timeline for a verdict.
Why it matters
Huawei is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, and the case places allegations of intellectual property theft against a major foreign firm before a US federal court.
Frequently asked questions
What is Huawei accused of?
US prosecutors accused Huawei of being a criminal enterprise that stole from American companies and abused the US financial system over 20 years to dominate the global telecommunications industry, according to the Guardian.
Where and when did the trial begin?
The trial opened in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, according to the Guardian.
How is Huawei defending itself?
The defense argues the case is 'about competition, not conspiracy,' according to the Guardian.