Rubio Asks Biden Admin. to Add ZTE to Entity List
The Commerce Department should add ZTE to its Entity List now that its five-year probation period and U.S. criminal case has ended, said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in a Monday letter to Commerce and the Justice Department. Rubio also expressed…
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“disappointment and concern” that a U.S. court ruled this month against further penalties against the Chinese telecommunications company despite “credible evidence” that ZTE violated its probation. Rubio said the judge in the case “appeared unconvinced of any serious commitment to reform” by ZTE officials. “Given that the decision effectively marks the end of ZTE’s five-year probationary period, the net result is that a firm explicitly identified by the Federal Communications Commission as a national-security threat is today rewarded with relaxed oversight, despite its acknowledged noncompliance,” Rubio said in the letter. He said Commerce and DOJ should “take all appropriate measures against ZTE to ensure it cannot pose a threat to Americans,” including adding the company to Commerce’s export control blacklist. Spokespeople for Commerce and DOJ didn’t respond to requests for comment.