On July 13, 2018, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued an order terminating the April 15, 2018 Denial Order against Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. (collectively, ZTE). The order confirms that ZTE paid the $1 billion penalty and complied with the requirement of depositing $400 million in a U.S. bank escrow account. This $1.4 billion amount was in addition to the $892 million in penalties ZTE paid under its earlier settlement agreement for U.S. export law violations that occurred when it supplied telecommunications equipment to North Korea and Iran.
In a brief statement, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stated, “While we lifted the ban on ZTE, the Department will remain vigilant as we closely monitor ZTE’s actions to ensure compliance with all U.S. laws and regulations … Three interlocking elements – a suspended denial order, the $400 million in escrow, and a compliance team selected by and answerable to the Department – will allow the Department to protect U.S. national security.”