US prosecutor calls Huawei 'a criminal enterprise' as New York trial opens

September 11, 2026 at 11:46 AM2 min

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US prosecutors accused Huawei of running a criminal enterprise for more than 20 years as its trial opened in New York on Wednesday. The company faces charges of stealing trade secrets from five companies, including Cisco and T-Mobile. Huawei denies wrongdoing, saying its success came from competition and innovation.

Key Facts

US prosecutor Taylor Stout said Huawei victimized American companies and abused the US financial system for 20 years to dominate the telecommunications industry.
Huawei is accused of stealing source code for an internet router operating system from Cisco and a robotic arm used to test phones from T-Mobile.
The prosecutor also accused Huawei of laundering money through Iran's financial system and helping the Iranian regime spy on its citizens.
Huawei's defense lawyers said the company earned its success through hard work and innovation, not theft or conspiracy.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China firmly opposes US suppression of Chinese enterprises and supports Huawei in safeguarding its rights.

Prosecution's Opening Statement

US prosecutor Taylor Stout described Huawei as a criminal enterprise that victimized American companies for two decades. He alleged Huawei conspired to steal trade secrets from American businesses, including source code from Cisco and a robotic arm from T-Mobile. Stout also accused Huawei of laundering money through Iran's financial system and helping the Iranian regime spy on its own citizens. He said Huawei deliberately violated US sanctions against Iran by supplying telecommunications equipment through an indirect channel.

Defense and Chinese Response

Huawei's defense lawyers said the case is about competition, not conspiracy, and that the company earned its success through innovation and hard work. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China firmly opposes US suppression of Chinese enterprises and supports Huawei in safeguarding its legitimate rights. Huawei has been barred from providing products or services in the US since being placed on the Entity List, which subjects it to export controls.