My TakeIs the US about to let Meng Wanzhou go?
- With the Americans yet to make a formal application to a Canadian judge for the extradition of the Huawei executive, there are hopes she may be released to make way for a trade deal
Maybe American prosecutors have finally seen the light. In the case of Huawei’s top executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, the 60-day deadline for her detention ends on January 30.
However, the American side has yet to file a formal application along with supporting materials to justify her extradition before a Vancouver judge.
Canadian legal experts have observed that such last-minute filings are not unusual and most believe the United States will proceed. Still, one should not exclude the possibility, however slim, that the US will use the deadline as a face-saving measure to let Meng go and the Canadians off the hook.
Vice-Premier Liu He and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the countries’ top trade envoys, are expected to meet in Washington on January 30 and 31.
US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible breakthrough in the upcoming talks. He has said he might intervene in Meng’s case if it would help to reach a trade deal.
This US president has breached so many of Washington’s norms and institutional practices already.