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Senate Votes To Reinstate ZTE Ban That's Nearly Shut Down the Company (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the back-and-forth dept.

The U.S. Senate has voted to reinstate a ban on ZTE that prevents the Chinese telecom company from buying U.S. components and using U.S. software. As The Verge notes, "it's still not clear if the reversal will make it into law: it has to clear a conference with the House, and then avoid a veto from President Trump, who advocated for cutting a deal that would lift the ban." From the report: ZTE was hit with the trade ban by the U.S. Commerce Department in April after failing to following through with a punishment for violating sanctions on Iran and North Korea. That ban essentially shut down ZTE, which relies on U.S. parts like Qualcomm processors. Shortly thereafter, Trump said he would cut a deal to revive the company, and a deal was reached -- with additional penalties that the department said were uniquely stringent -- earlier this month.

But senators on both sides of the aisle immediately threatened to stop the deal and reinstate the ban, citing ZTE as a national security risk. And ultimately, a bipartisan group worked to get legislation introduced. The Senate voted 85 to 10 in support of reinstating the ban. It was included as an amendment on the National Defense Authorization Act, a must-pass piece of legislation that has already moved through the House.

9 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. How dare they? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Obey the President. Anything but total fealty is treason.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    1. Re:How dare they? by Immerman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They also elect congress to do a job - that job being setting the rules of government that the other branches have to obey. With an 85-10 vote we're not talking party politics, we're talking Congress doing it's F'ing job and preventing the president from undermining the rule of law to line his own pockets.

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      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    2. Re:How dare they? by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You ever hear of checks and balances? This is one of those rare cases of government working correctly as designed. It's not democracy if the president can unilaterally do whatever he likes.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. Re:Kill ZTE but treat defense contractors differen by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah, they still haven't quite figured that out yet. They figured buying the President was good enough. I'd imagine that's how it works in China--you just have to buy the top person.

    Personally, I think this is just a fig-leaf for the elections. "My opponent is campaigning against me by saying that I'm Donald Trump's water-boy. Well, I'm tough--I stood up to the President on this random issue." Of course, nothing will actually happen with this bill before the election. After the election, assuming the Senator gets re-elected, they'll just drop the whole thing...

  3. Re:Kill ZTE but treat defense contractors differen by sg_oneill · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't confuse China and Russia.

    I have no idea how much of the russian allegations are true, other than the fact a few of the smaller fish have indeed been caught doing naughty things.

    But worst case and its all true, that doesn't mean china is implied here. Russia and china have very different agendas, and to some degree consider each other traditional foes (Particularly because some of the border issues where never really resolved)

    --
    Excuse the Unicode crap in my posts. That's an apostrophe, and slashdot is busted.
  4. Override the veto by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    unless they do that then this is just political posturing so that reps in vulnerable districts don't take flak for saving Chinese jobs while American ones go overseas.

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    1. Re:Override the veto by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Informative

      85-10 is pretty squarely in the "override veto" territory.

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      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  5. Re:Kill ZTE but treat defense contractors differen by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 5, Informative

    Nah. You need to pay more attention to the news.

    Ivanka Trump Wins China Trademarks, Then Her Father Vows to Save ZTE
    Trump helps sanctioned Chinese phone maker after China delivers a big loan to a Trump project

  6. Re: Medicare != sound economic policy by orlanz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Many economists consider Medicare for all to be sound economics. It is a broad debate with very few people on the "Everyone gets everything" and "Everyone on their own" wings. Few consider the current system of corporations based risk pools to be a good balance. Most settle on some sort of safety net. The debate is around where that net starts.

    It is extremely beneficial for individuals to not worry about the financial burden of health issues (especially in the overpriced US). It frees up massive amounts of financial and labor capital that can be invested in various parts of the economy. It also brings up the most vulnerable and poorest members of society to a more equal footing and thus allows greater contribution from them.

    The costs are negligible when you consider the spends on our global police force or ongoing domestic & foreign wars or various industrial subsidies or even food donations we give globally.