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In the past few years ZTE, a Chinese electronics company that, among other things, makes cheap smartphones, has gotten into repeated trouble with the U.S. government. Many of its products contain U.S. technology — technology that, by law, must not be exported to embargoed nations, including North Korea and Iran. But ZTE was circumventing the ban.
Initially, the company was fined $1.2 billion. Then, when it became clear that the company had rewarded rather than punished the executives involved, the Commerce Department forbade U.S. technology companies from selling components to ZTE for the next seven years.
And two weeks ago the Pentagon banned sales of ZTE phones on military bases, following warnings from intelligence agencies that the Chinese government may be using the company’s products to conduct espionage.
All of which made it very strange indeed to see Trump suddenly declare that he was working with President Xi of China to help save ZTE — “Too many jobs in China lost” — and that he was ordering the Commerce Department to make it happen.
It’s possible that Trump was just trying to offer an olive branch amid what looks like a possible trade war. But why choose such a flagrant example of Chinese misbehavior? Which was why many eyes turned to Indonesia, where a Chinese state-owned company just announced a big investment in a project in which the Trump Organization has a substantial stake.
Last year the administration, bizarrely, backed a Saudi blockade of Qatar, a Middle Eastern nation that also happens to be the site of a major U.S. military base. Why? Well, the move came shortly after the Qataris refused to invest $500 million in 666 Fifth Avenue, a troubled property owned by the family of Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
Don’t say there’s no proof: We’re not talking about a court of law, where the accused are presumed innocent until proved guilty. Where the behavior of high officials is concerned, the standard is very nearly the opposite: They’re supposed to avoid situations in which there is even a hint that their actions might be motivated by personal gain.
Second, while I have always agreed that we should hold anyone who works for taxpayer money to a higher standard, the fact that it is only a reaction to a Trump presidency
Man, is he the colludingest president ever or what?
And, btw, a complete 360 keeps you going in the same diretion.
So with that logic, you know there's no real justification to bailing out this Chinese company but because, supposedly, only the Trump Administration is being pinged for this (whataboutism) we should move on?
Under the agreement brokered by the Commerce Department, ZTE would pay a substantial fine, hire American compliance officers to be placed at the firm and make changes to its current management team.
In return, the Commerce Department would lift a so-called denial order that is preventing the company from buying American products, the person said.
originally posted by: Southern Guardian
a reply to: jadedANDcynical
Man, is he the colludingest president ever or what?
And, btw, a complete 360 keeps you going in the same diretion.
Direction* and I'll assume you're aware 'colludingest' isn't a word.
The term bail out doesn't apply here.
That's after Trump appeared to hold out a lifeline for the company when he tweeted he was working with China to help get ZTE "back in to business, fast".
Eh. Whats to say that ZTE isnt a card being played in some other negotiation.