US files criminal charges in two Huawei cases, seeks extradition of CFO Meng Wanzhou

The US Justice Department has filed a host of criminal charges against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou.

Among the charges are accusations of bank and wire fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology from US company T Mobile.

Ms Meng was arrested in Canada last month on a US request for allegedly evading sanctions on Iran.

The case has badly strained relations between China, Canada and the US.

Both Ms Meng and Huawei deny the allegations.

The indictment alleges Huawei misled the US and a global bank about its relationship with subsidiaries to conduct business with Iran.

A second case alleges the company stole technology from T Mobile used to test smart phone durability.

US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross stated that the Huawei charges were “wholly separate” from ongoing trade negotiations with China.

Top Chinese officials are due in Washington this week to discuss ending a trade war between the two countries.

These US charges come the day after Canada fired its ambassador to China, days after he publicly said the US extradition request for Ms Meng was flawed.