The statement comes after Reuters reported that a deal in principle had been reached with the Chinese firm, backtracking from a decision in April to ban U. com/news/articles/2018-05-31/zte-is-said-to-replace-top-exec-as-china-seeks-to-lift-u-s-ban” target=”_blank”>report that ZTE would be replacing a top executive with someone who comes from a Chinese company already sanctioned by the Commerce Department. Their ‘good faith’ gesture to get ban lifted on #ZTE was to replace a top executive with a guy from another company THAT IS ALSO SANCTIONED FOR BEING A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT! How did @CommerceGov fall for that?” Rubio wrote in a The Trump administration has not yet reached a “definitive” deal that would roll back harsh sanctions on Chinese telecommunication company ZTE, a Commerce Department spokesman said.
“No definitive agreement has been signed by both parties,” the spokesman said in a statement. “We have no updates at this time."
The statement comes after Reuters reported that a deal in principle had been reached with the Chinese firm, backtracking from a decision in April to ban U.S. companies from doing any business with ZTE for seven years.
Last month, Commerce notified officials on Capitol Hill of a deal, which will instead have ZTE pay a bigger fine, hire American compliance officers and replace the firm’s current management team.
President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the outlines of the deal on Twitter last month when he said that he had shut down the company but "let it reopen" after a series of changes.
Trump’s actions toward the company have drawn rebuke on both sides of the aisle. Lawmakers have also sought to block any action through legislation that has passed committees in both the House and Senate.
“By letting ZTE off the hook, the president who roared like a lion is governing like a lamb when it comes to China,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “Congress should move in a bipartisan fashion to block this deal right away.”
Sen. Marco Rubio has also taken Trump to task for his desire to ease restrictions on the company. The Florida Republican panned a report that ZTE would be replacing a top executive with someone who comes from a Chinese company already sanctioned by the Commerce Department.
“#China is completely clowning the U.S. Their ‘good faith’ gesture to get ban lifted on #ZTE was to replace a top executive with a guy from another company THAT IS ALSO SANCTIONED FOR BEING A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT! How did @CommerceGov fall for that?” Rubio wrote in a tweet.