US judge dismisses Huawei’s indictment over network equipment ban

A US judge has dismissed Huawei’s charges against the US government. The Chinese company is not happy with the ban on government agencies from buying Huawei equipment and has tried to legally challenge that ban.

A federal judge in Texas rules that Huawei has no ground to sue the US government under a law that restricts US federal governments from doing business with the Chinese company. The judge ruled that Congress acted lawfully when it passed the National Defense Authorization Act last year, CNN writes.

The judge ruled that Huawei’s arguments are not convincing and that being able to conclude a contract with the federal government is a privilege and not a constitutionally guaranteed right. The judge also finds that Huawei is not seriously restricted, because it can still do business with any other company, individual in the US and all other countries in the world with which it does business.

Huawei sued the US government in March last year. The company believes Congress acted unconstitutionally, targeting section 889 of the law specifically. It regulates the budget for Defense and states that government services for important infrastructure are not allowed to purchase equipment from Huawei or ZTE. According to Huawei, Congress would go against the separation of powers because it would constitute both the legislative and executive branches. The company also believes that this law violates its right to a fair trial.

The Chinese company says in a statement disappointed to be. Huawei says it will look into other legal options. “We understand the critical significance of national security, but the US government’s approach in the National Defense Authorization Act creates a false sense of protection and undermines Huawei’s constitutional rights,” the company said in a statement.