Meng, who is chief financial officer for China’s Huawei Technologies, was arrested at Vancouver’s airport on Dec. 1 on U.S. charges related to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions law, setting off an ongoing diplomatic dispute.

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China claims Meng’s arrest was political. Not long after she was arrested, two Canadians in China were arrested on vague security charges that are widely seen as retaliation. A Canadian convicted of drug smuggling was later resentenced to death in a hasty, one-day trial.

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Canada counters that it is bound by an extradition treaty with the United States, stressing the charges are a legal matter. A news release published Friday by Canada’s Justice Department opened with the line, “Canada is a country governed by the rule of law.”

“An extradition hearing is not a trial nor does it render a verdict of guilt or innocence,” the statement continued. “If a person is ultimately extradited from Canada to face prosecution in another country, the individual will have a trial in that country.”

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The U.S. role adds another layer of complexity. The standoff over Meng comes as the Trump administration is engaged in high-stakes trade negotiations with Beijing.

President Trump has suggested the United States could cut a deal with China — a suggestion that could ultimately play a role in Meng’s extradition case, it seems.

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In a statement emailed to reporters on Friday, members of Meng’s defense team expressed “disappointment” that the hearings will go ahead despite the “political nature” of the charges.

They also included a reference to Trump’s comments: “The President of the United States has repeatedly stated that he would interfere in Ms. Meng’s case if he thought it would assist the U.S. negotiations with China over a trade deal.”

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In January, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed a 13-count indictment against Huawei, two affiliates and Meng, alleging bank and wire fraud. It also charged the company with violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Friday’s announcement from Canadian authorities means a deal is less likely and the United States will indeed seek to bring Meng stateside to face charges.

Eventually, that could bring the United States and China into direct conflict.

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For now, China seems focused on pressuring Canada. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Canada called the extradition process “political persecution against a Chinese high-tech enterprise.”