Huawei RICO Trial Set for September After Charge Streamlining
Huawei faces a criminal trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on charges of sanction evasion, racketeering, and trade-secret theft. The outcome of this trial, which begins in 92 days, could significantly influence global technology policy regarding Huawei and its equipment.
Key Takeaways
- The trial, initially set for June, will now begin in September 2026, 92 days from the original article's publication date.
- Huawei faces charges of evading sanctions against Iran, racketeering, and trade-secret theft.
- The company is not facing an espionage charge, which was initially anticipated.
- Huawei ranks seventh among companies most frequently accused of patent infringement in the U.S., behind Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and Meta.
- If the government loses the case, it could force a re-evaluation of the U.S. narrative regarding Huawei's equipment and national security.
- If the government wins, the verdict will likely be used to justify new restrictions on Huawei globally.
Why It Matters
The impending criminal trial against Huawei carries substantial implications for the telecommunications and streaming infrastructure sectors. A conviction could lead to further global restrictions on Huawei equipment, impacting network build-outs and supply chains already navigating geopolitical complexities. Conversely, a U.S. government loss would undermine long-standing narratives about Huawei, potentially reopening market access and forcing a reassessment of vendor strategies globally. Industry players should closely monitor the trial's proceedings and verdict, as it will signal future regulatory and competitive landscapes, particularly concerning Chinese technology in Western markets.
Additional Context
The rescheduling of Huawei's racketeering trial to September 2026 stems from U.S. prosecutors filing streamlined charges (Law360, April 2026). This adjustment allows both sides additional preparation time for a highly scrutinized legal battle (Legal News Feed, April 2026). The charges include allegations of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), theft of trade secrets, and economic sanctions violations (Legal News Feed, April 2026). Judge Ann Donnelly of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn earlier rejected Huawei's bid to dismiss 13 of 16 charges in July 2025, finding sufficient allegations of racketeering, bank and wire fraud, and trade-secret theft (JURIST, July 2025; Light Reading, July 2025). The judge's 52-page decision noted that prosecutors adequately alleged Skycom, a Hong Kong company, operated as Huawei's Iranian subsidiary to funnel over $100 million through the U.S. financial system, contravening sanctions (JURIST, July 2025). While Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou had charges dismissed in 2022, the criminal case against the company itself has continued (Asia Financial, July 2025). A potential guilty verdict could result in multi-billion dollar fines, asset seizures, or being cut off from the dollar-based financial system, significantly impacting its relationships with European customers like Deutsche Telekom, which heavily relies on Huawei in its German RAN (Light Reading, July 2025).
Read full article at fiercewireless.com
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