Timeline: How did China’s largest listed 5G phone equipment maker land itself in hot water?

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First assembly area of ZTE's final production line on January 25, 2016 in Shenzhen, where mobile phones for other brands are being produced. ZTE also makes children's phones for Japan. Photo: SCMP/Post Magazine

Published: 1:10pm, 17 Apr 2018Updated: 11:00pm, 17 Apr 2018

The US Department of Commerce slapped a seven-year exports ban on ZTE, denying China’s largest listed 5G telecommunications gear maker access to much-needed components and software, for breaching the terms of a sanctions violation with the US government.

Here’s a timeline of what happened:

14 July 2012: The US Federal Bureau of Investigations found that ZTE had sold banned technology to Iran, and tried to cover up its transaction to block a US Department of Commerce investigation into its violation of trade sanctions.

7 March 2016: Trading of ZTE’s shares halted in Hong Kong and Shenzhen after Reuters reported that the US Department of Commerce was about to slap export restrictions on the company for violating Iran sanctions.

8 March 2016: ZTE said it would cooperate with Washington to resolve US export restrictions.

5 April 2016: ZTE appointed Zhao Xianming to replace Shi Lirong as president and chairman of its board, part of a settlement with the US government for violating Iran trade sanctions. ZTE shares would resume trading on April 7.

28 June 2016: ZTE given a second reprieve from US export restrictions while it sorts out its management to comply with agreement to settle sanction breaches.