Chinese mobile and telecoms manufacturer Huawei responded to US allegations of trade theft and espionage by sung the US government through a court in Texas.

The company claims the law which allowed the US reduction of Huawei’s operation in America was unconstitutional, proving to be its sharpest response yet.

The complaint, filed in Plano, Texas, the Headquarters of Huawei’s American operations references the some of the creators of the American constitution in Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, claiming that the law in question “violates the constitutional separation of powers, denies due process and amounts to a “Bill of Attainder” that singles out a specific entity for adverse treatment.”

Huawei argues the law causes the company “concrete and particularized injury, and imminent future injury” and subjects it to a “burden that is severe, permanent and inescapable” that amounts to a corporate “death penalty.”

The lawsuit marks the latest in a long chapter of hostility between Huawei, China, and the US government. Both countries have spent the majority of 2018 placing tariffs on each other’s good leading to a protracted trade war.

Huawei Rotating Chairman Guo Ping said in a statement:

“The U.S. Congress has repeatedly failed to produce any evidence to support its restrictions on Huawei products. We are compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort. “This ban not only is unlawful but also restricts Huawei from engaging in fair competition, ultimately harming U.S. consumers. We look forward to the court’s verdict.”

The US has also requested to have Huawei’s chief financial officer (CFO), Meng Wanzhou, extradited to the US to face counts of violating US sanctions and trade secrets theft. Ms. Wnazhou also happens to be Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei’s eldest daughter. 

Ever since the accusation by the US government, Huawei has gone on the charm offensive in many countries worldwide, hoping that their massive international operations are unaffected by events in the US.

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