Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Bill to Enforce Commerce Deal with Chinese Telecom Firm ZTE

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to enforce full compliance by ZTE with all probationary conditions in the Commerce Department’s July 2018 deal.  The deal lifted a denial order, banning the export of U.S. parts and components to ZTE for seven years.  If the Commerce Secretary cannot regularly certify ZTE’s full compliance with the deal and with relevant U.S. export controls and sanctions laws, the denial order’s crippling punishments will be reinstated against ZTE.

“Having continuously violated American sanctions on Iran and North Korea, ZTE’s disregard for U.S. laws undermines our national security interests and cannot be tolerated,” Senator Collins said. “Our bipartisan bill would require the Department of Commerce to monitor ZTE and effectively put ZTE out of business if they are found to be noncompliant, ensuring the safety of our economy and national security.”

In addition to Senator Collins, the ZTE Enforcemnt Review and Oversight (ZERO) Act was introduced by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Doug Jones (D-AL).

Click HERE to read the full text of the bill.