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Abstract

The US has ‘international’ laws, created domestically, which used to support national global interests, enforced by threats of exclusion from the dollar-based world trading system. These create problems for, and are contested by, governments around the world, Using Critical Discourse Analysis, this paper analyses BBC international news reporting on one case where these laws were used against the chief financial officer of Huawei in regard to breaking US sanctions against Iran. The case was dismissed as groundless in 2021. Reporting foregrounds drama, personalization and details of legal process, but never questions the nature of this ‘international law’.

Keywords

BBC critical discourse analysis journalism media and crime tariffs US-China trade war World Bank

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How US-defined ‘international law’ becomes legitimized in the news media: BBC coverage of the case of the US against Huawei/Meng Wanzhou

Abstract

Keywords

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