A ZTE presentation at a conference in Barcelona. Photo: Miquel Benitez/Getty Images
After three months and the effective shutdown of phone maker ZTE, the Commerce Department has officially lifted a ban on American suppliers selling to the Chinese company, reports Reuters, and ZTE shares are soaring.
Why it matters: The fact that a ban on American parts prompted ZTE to shut down operations is a clear example of the significant leverage U.S. tech companies have over China. But Chinese President Xi Jinping was able to successfully lobby President Trump and save ZTE. That sets a dangerous precedent for U.S.–China negotiations on trade and intellectual property theft.
The backdrop: ZTE is a repeat violator of U.S. sanctions — it sold equipment with American parts to North Korea and Iran, and has been labeled a national security threat by the Pentagon. As a result, ZTE phones have been banned from military bases due to concerns about Chinese espionage.
The details: The Chinese phone maker held up its end of the Commerce Department's deal, paying a $1 billion fine for violating U.S. sanctions and placing $400 million in a U.S. bank escrow account. The company has also made changes to its top leadership. As a result, Commerce lifted what would have been a seven-year ban on American companies doing business with ZTE.
What to watch: U.S. lawmakers are refuting the Trump administration's move and working to reinstate the ban by including it in defense legislation.
