BUSINESS/CHINA/SANCTIONS/TECHNOLOGY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday [5-17-18] quietly rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to help restore the U.S. operations of the controversial Chinese tech megafirm, ZTE. Lawmakers from both parties unanimously agreed to include in an appropriations bill a provision that would uphold sanctions against the Chinese phone-maker, just days after President Donald Trump revealed in a tweet that he has directed his administration to help put the company ‘back in business…’ The language was added to a relatively uncontroversial House spending bill, which funds the Commerce Department, among other agencies. The rare bipartisan amendment was approved in a voice vote, with backing from the GOP subcommittee chairman, Texas Republican Rep. John Culberson. American companies are currently barred from buying or selling ZTE products, after the megafirm willfully violated an international accord by doing business with Iran and North Korea.”
-Sarah Ferris and John Hendel, “House panel rebukes Trump, upholds sanctions on Chinese tech megafirm,” Poltico, May 17, 2018 4:12 pm