A source with knowledge of the matter revealed that Chinese telecommunications company Huawei is preparing to file a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging a provision in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), according to a report.
The legal action, expected to be announced soon, targets an amendment to the NDAA that restricts U.S. government contracts with Chinese firms like Huawei. Beijing has criticized the measure as explicitly targeting Chinese technology companies, while the law also expanded the authority of a foreign investment review panel.
The New York Times first reported the planned litigation, citing individuals familiar with the matter. Huawei has not publicly commented on the potential lawsuit but has invited global media to a Thursday press conference at its Shenzhen headquarters.
This development follows Huawei's ongoing legal battles, including a recent case where its CFO, Meng Wanzhou, sued Canadian authorities over her detention in December 2018. Canada recently approved a hearing on a U.S. extradition request related to alleged Iran sanctions violations.
The lawsuit is expected to argue that the NDAA provision constitutes a 'bill of attainder'—a legislative measure that punishes a specific individual or group without due process. U.S. authorities have accused Huawei of posing a national security risk, a claim the company consistently denies.
