Huawei Faces Racketeering Trial in New York Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft and Iran Dealings

China's Huawei Technologies has begun its trial in a New York federal court on charges including racketeering, bank fraud, wire fraud, and the theft of trade secrets. Jury selection started Tuesday in the Eastern District of New York before US District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. The company has pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts, which cover alleged criminal activity dating back to 1999.

Federal prosecutors allege that Huawei engaged in a decades long racketeering scheme to steal technology from five US companies and unfairly gain an industry advantage. The indictment includes accusations that Huawei defrauded banks regarding its business dealings in Iran and lied about its operations in North Korea. One specific allegation involves the use of a firm called Skycom to obtain embargoed US goods and services for Iran.

Judge Donnelly instructed potential jurors to be fair and impartial, stating that neither the Communist Party of China nor the US Iran conflict should influence their judgment. The trial is expected to last approximately three months. If convicted, the company could face financial penalties ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Huawei has denied all wrongdoing, describing the case as an effort to undermine its competitiveness and a repackaging of resolved commercial disputes. Beijing has criticized the proceedings as part of a broader campaign against China's technological rise.

Outlets with a center lean focused on the specific legal charges and the trial's commencement. Outlets with a center right lean provided more geopolitical context, framing the trial as a key battle in a larger US China tech war and highlighting the potential implications for national security and trade blacklists.