Huawei Pleads Not Guilty to U.S. Trade Secret Theft
Huawei Device Co Ltd and Huawei Device USA Inc pleaded not guilty to U.S. fraud, trade secrets conspiracy and other charges, and a trial date was set for March 2020.
According to the Justice Department, the units of China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd were arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle, and Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez set trial for March 2, 2020.
The two companies were charged in an indictment unsealed last month that they conspired to steal T-Mobile US Inc trade secrets between 2012 and 2014.
Washington is trying to prevent American and European companies from buying Huawei routers.
T-Mobile had accused Huawei of stealing technology which mimicked human fingers and was used to test smartphones. Huawei has said the two companies settled their disputes in 2017.
Separately, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have charged Huawei and its affiliates with bank and wire fraud on allegations that they violated sanctions against Iran.
The United States is also seeking the extradition from Canada of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, after charging her with bank and wire fraud.
Huawei has has denied Beijing could use its technology for spying.