Donald Trump ‘working together’ with President Xi Jinping to help restart China's ZTE
The US president instructed the Commerce Department to help the Chinese telecom giant ‘get back into business, fast’
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he has asked the Commerce Department to help Chinese technology company ZTE Corp “get back into business, fast,” after being crippled by a US ban, a concession to Beijing ahead of high-stakes trade talks this week.
“Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!” Trump wrote on Twitter, saying he is working with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a solution.
White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters confirmed that US officials are in contact with Beijing about ZTE. She said Trump’s tweet underscored the importance of “free, fair, balanced and mutually beneficial” relations between the United States and China on issues involving the economy, trade and investment.
Trump expects Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross “to exercise his independent judgement, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, to resolve the regulatory action involving ZTE based on its facts,” Walters said.
ZTE has noticed the tweet from Trump and welcomes this latest progress, a person close to the company told the South China Morning Post. ZTE will continue to communicate with relevant parties, under the guidance of the Chinese government, to facilitate a final resolution, said the person, who is not authorized to speak to the media.