Huawei challenges US sanctions in US court

Huawei is going to court to challenge sanctions imposed by the US government. The Chinese company says America should stop boycotting Huawei products because they “supposedly pose a security threat”.

Huawei filed a motion for interim injunction on Wednesday to accelerate the end of “illegal actions against the company,” the Chinese company said in a press release. In March, the telecom giant already filed a complaint against the United States because the restrictions are “unconstitutional”.

“Boycotting Huawei with cybersecurity as an excuse will not make networks more secure. The measures create a false sense of security and distract attention from the real challenges we face,” said Huawei corporate lawyer Song Liuping. According to him, American politicians abuse the power of an entire nation to go after a private company: “That’s not normal. Almost never seen in history”. Song Liuping added that the US government has still not provided evidence that Huawei poses a security threat.

Huawei’s chief legal officer Song Liuping

In the complaint, Huawei mainly criticizes section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act or NDDA, the law that regulates the defense budget. It states that government departments for important infrastructure are not allowed to purchase equipment from Huawei. Huawei calls that provision illegal and claims it goes against the separation of powers because it allows the US Congress to make the law while trying to be the executive branch.

Company lawyer Song Liuping says the US government sanctions set a dangerous precedent. “Today it’s the telecom sector and Huawei, but tomorrow it could be your industry, your company, your consumers,” he says. According to the chief legal officer, Huawei is confident in the independence and integrity of the US justice system and hopes that “the mistakes in the National Defense Authorization Act can be corrected in court.”

Huawei also hopes that America will take ‘fair and efficient measures’ to improve ICT security. “If security is the real goal of the US government,” the press release ends. The motion filed by Huawei will be considered on September 19.