Huawei Tech executive Meng Wanzhou has agreed to an agreement with the U.S. government.

Meng, detained in B.C. since December 2018 while awaiting extradition to the U.S., pleaded no guilty to American wire-fraud charges in a New York court proceeding today.

Prosecutors say the plea’s part of a deferred agreement with the Department of Justice, that’s expected to allow her to be promptly returned to China.

Once all’s approved, Canada’s attorney-general will be notified that Washington’s withdrawing its extradition request.

Washington had been seeking her extradition on fraud charges connected with allegations the company conspired to avoid American sanctions on Iran.

 

Today’s agreement could prove crucial in Canada’s efforts to secure the release of a pair of Canadians — Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor  — who were detained in Beijing shortly after Meng’s arrest.

They’ve been held 1,019 days.