US 'probes Huawei for trade secret theft'

Huawei is one of the world's biggest smartphone-makers

The US is reportedly investigating Huawei for "stealing trade secrets" from American business partners in the latest action against the Chinese technology giant.

The criminal inquiry was first reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

It comes as the Trump administration is pressing China to take action on questions of technology theft or face additional trade tariffs.

Huawei and the Department of Justice declined to comment.

The WSJ said the investigation stems in part from a lawsuit that telecoms company T-Mobile brought against Huawei in 2014.

T-Mobile accused Huawei of stealing the technology behind a robot T-Mobile had developed to test mobile phones.

A Seattle jury in 2017 agreed that Huawei had misappropriated trade secrets, but determined that the actions were not "willful and malicious".

The probe adds to pressure facing Huawei, one of the world's biggest technology companies.

Espionage allegations

Last week a Huawei employee was arrested in Poland, accused of spying.

The firm, which makes smartphones and telecommunications equipment, is facing accusations in the US and other countries that its equipment could be used by the Chinese government for espionage.

Huawei has denied those claims. On Tuesday Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei denied the firm posed a spying risk.

The US has also accused the firm of lying to US banks about its business in Iran, in violation of US sanctions.

Last month, the firm's chief financial officer was arrested in Canada, at the request of the US related to those claims.

The arrest heightened tensions between the US and China, which are vying for influence around the world.

There has also been increased tension between China and Canada, with China sentencing a Canadian man to death over drugs smuggling in the wake of the Huawei arrest.

The US has also accused China of unfair business practices, including technology theft, triggering tit-for-tat tariffs on billions of dollars in annual trade.