Huawei preparing to sue US government over telecoms equipment ban
China’s Huawei is preparing to sue the US government for banning federal agencies from using the company’s products over security fears, according to a report.
It comes after the Chinese technology firm’s finance chief, Meng Wanzhou sued the Canadian government, its border agency and federal police on Sunday. Lawyers allege that Huawei’s chief financial officer was detained, searched and interrogated for three hours in violation of her constitutional rights.
The US lawsuit will filed in the Eastern District of Texas where Huawei has its American headquarters, the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.
According to one of the people, the lawsuit is likely to challenge a US law passed last year blocking government agencies from using Huawei’s telecoms equipment.
The newspaper reported that Huawei will argue that the provision is unconstitutional because it amounts to a “bill of attainder,” or a legislative act that singles out a person or group for punishment without trial.
Washington has been leading a campaign against Huawei which officials believe poses a national security threat. The company's equipment could be used for Chinese government spying operations, US officials have said.
The company’s executives have strongly rejected the allegations which they say are motivated by political and economic concerns.
However, a number of governments including Australia and New Zealand have since banned Huawei's equipment from the next generation of mobile networks.
In a blow to US efforts, UK security bosses said last month that risks posed by Huawei's involvement in 5G networks can be contained.
Huawei declined to comment on the NYT report.
A hearing is set to begin this week in Canada that will determine whether Ms Meng will be extradited to the US to face charges.
Ms Meng was arrested in Vancouver in December at the request of the US, which argued she posed a threat to national security. Huawei's CFO was charged with bank and wire fraud which she allegedly committed to circumvent American sanctions against Iran.
