Lawmakers try to restore penalties on ZTE firm

The U.S. Senate advanced legislation to restore penalties on ZTE Corp. after President Donald Trump drew sharp criticism for easing restrictions to get the Chinese company back in business.

The Senate voted 91-4 late Monday to begin debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, including a ZTE amendment that will keep restrictions on the Chinese telecom company despite a reprieve last week from the U.S. Commerce Department. The provision was included on a list of amendments that is backed by both Republicans and Democrats.

“Great news! Our bipartisan amendment restoring penalties on #ZTE is included in the #NDAA bill the Senate will be advancing to later this evening,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a Twitter post before the vote.

Mr. Rubio is co-sponsor of the amendment with Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross last week announced the U.S. reached a deal with ZTE that included a record fine, changes to the company’s board and management and U.S. compliance officers. He cautioned at the time that the U.S. still retains “the power to shut them down again.”