President Trump said Sunday morning that he is working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to turn things around for a Chinese telecommunications firm recently subjected to a ban that would prevent any U.S. business from selling products to the company for seven years.
“President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast,” Trump tweeted. “Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!”
President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018
Last week ZTE Corp. said it was halting business in the U.S. following the Commerce Department’s ban on supply sales to the company. The company said it’s working with the relevant agencies to try to overturn the order, which prevents any U.S. company from selling parts and software to ZTE and Huawei Technologies, another Chinese-owned manufacturer of telecommunications products.
The Commerce Department imposed the ban on sales of U.S. components and software to ZTE in April after the company pleaded guilty last year to violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.
In response to Trump’s tweet Sunday, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff noted that U.S. intelligence officers have warned about a potential threat from ZTE. “Our intelligence agencies have warned that ZTE technology and phones pose a major cyber security threat. You should care more about our national security than Chinese jobs,” Schiff, D-Calif., tweeted.
Our intelligence agencies have warned that ZTE technology and phones pose a major cyber security threat. You should care more about our national security than Chinese jobs. https://t.co/7Ygh7805jg
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 13, 2018
Earlier this month, the Pentagon ordered that all sales of phones from ZTE and Huawei Technologies Co., another Chinese firm, on military bases around the world over concerns about spy technology.
