A Senate panel on Tuesday rebuked President Trump’s efforts to ease sanctions on the Chinese telecom firm ZTE, which the intelligence community and trade regulators have warned poses a national security risk for the U.S.
The Senate Banking Committee approved an amendment in an overwhelming and bipartisan 23-2 vote that would block Trump from easing sanctions on ZTE without first certifying to Congress that the company is complying with U.S. law.
The move comes the same day The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration and China are closing in on a deal to ease off ZTE in exchange for trade concessions. That report raised concerns among lawmakers of both parties who have advocated for a crackdown on Chinese technology companies.
“If the president and his team won’t follow through on tough sanctions against ZTE, it’s up to Congress to ensure that it happens,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
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The ZTE sanctions now appear to have become a centerpiece of the administration’s trade negotiations with Beijing. Trump tweeted earlier this month that he wants the Commerce Department to come up with a way to bail the company out in order to save Chinese jobs.
Republicans and Democrats who have been urging a tougher stand on the firms have voiced their opposition to the plan.
In response to Tuesday’s Journal report, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a tweet that the move would constitute a surrender to China and promised to work on “veto-proof congressional action.”
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#BREAKING: Senate Banking Committee votes to block Trump from easing sanctions on ZTE https://t.co/6VrlmkWSNn pic.twitter.com/WgstQTGTMS
— The Hill (@thehill) May 22, 2018
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