Author: Alan Rappeport / Source: New York Times
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration signaled on Wednesday that it will try to block any effort by Congress to interfere with its plan to throw a lifeline to ZTE, the Chinese technology company that the United States government has penalized for violating sanctions.
The Department of Commerce brokered a settlement with ZTE this month after Chinese President Xi Jinping asked President Trump to issue a softer penalty that would not put the company out of business. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been working on legislation that would undermine that agreement and impose a stiffer punishment on ZTE.
The White House said on Wednesday that the current agreement “will ensure ZTE pays for its violations and gives our government complete oversight of their future activity without undue harm to American suppliers and their workers.”
Lawmakers have been working to attach legislation on ZTE to an upcoming National Defense Authorization Act measure that is expected to pass in the Senate. Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, suggested that such a move would undermine the authority of the executive branch.
“The administration will work with Congress to ensure the final N.D.A.A. conference report respects the separation of powers,” Mr. Gidley said, referencing the act.
The company’s shares plunged on Wednesday, losing more…
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