Canada arrests Huawei CFO on request of US authorities: report

Huawei

The chief financial officer of Chinese tech and telecoms giant
Huawei has been arrested in Canada at the request of US
authorities,
according to a report from The Global And Mail, and she faces
extradition to the United States.

Wanzhou Meng has reportedly been arrested by Chinese authorities
on suspicion of violating the US’s trade sanctions on Iran.

Huawei is one of China’s most prominent technology company — a
huge telecoms firm, and the world’s second-biggest smartphone
manufacturer. Its devices have come under scrutiny from US
authorities over spying fears, and the arest of its CFO has the
potential to further enflame tensions between the two countries
amid a mounting trade war.

US authorities have been probing Huawei since at least 2016 for allegedly
shipping US-origin products to Iran and other countries in
violation of US export and sanctions laws, sources told Reuters
in April.

A Huawei spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business
Insider’s request for comment.

In a statement, Canadian Justice Department
Ian McLeod told The Globe and Mail: “
Wanzhou
Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1. She is sought for
extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set
for Friday.”

According to Meng’s official company biography, she joined the
company in 1993 and also serves as deputy chairwoman of the
board. She is also the daughter of the company’s founder,
Ren Zhengfei.

This story is developing…