Congress Abandons Effort To Impose Harsher Restrictions On ZTE

In this May 8, 2018, file photo, Chinese men pass by a ZTE building in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Congress will not be blocking the Trump administrations deal with Chinese telecom giant ZTE.
Negotiators from both chambers have agreed not to include a provision to ban American firms from doing business with the company in next year’s Defense Authorization Act, according to reports.
Instead of a complete ban in the bill, lawmakers will reportedly just prohibit government contracts from going to the company.
This means the Trump administration’s deal with ZTE, allowing it to resume business in the country, will largely remain in place.
Votes in both chambers on the legislation are expected to take place in the near future.