President Trump is headed for a showdown with Congress over his deal to save Chinese telecommunications company ZTE from crushing U.S. sanctions, and the opposition is lining up against him on both sides of aisle.
It is the perfect anti-Trump insurrection on Capitol Hill that brings together Republicans and Democrats under a banner of national security.
While the Trump administration was finalizing the agreement, which also smooths U.S.-China trade talks, the House and the Senate last week were hastily approving bills that would block the deal.
Republicans called for an emergency meeting with top administration officials.
Undeterred, Mr. Trump announced Friday that the terms were set to spare China’s second largest cellphone maker from a U.S. ban that threatened to bankrupt the company and put its 70,000 employees out of work.
Mr. Trump took aim at his Democratic critics, namely Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer who has spearheaded the resistance.
“Senator Schumer and Obama Administration let phone company ZTE flourish with no security checks. I closed it down then let it reopen with high level security guarantees, change of management and board, must purchase U.S. parts and pay a $1.3 Billion fine,” tweeted Mr. Trump.
He continued, “Dems do nothing but complain and obstruct. They made only bad deals (Iran) and their so-called Trade Deals are the laughing stock of the world!”
The Commerce Department in April banned sales to ZTE, which relies on U.S. components. The action was in response to company breaking an agreement reached with U.S. to settle ZTE’s illegal sales to Iran and North Korea.
ZTE also is considered a national security risk because the Chinese can spy though the phones. The Pentagon banned the phones on military bases.
Mr. Trump earlier this month ordered a review of the sanctions on ZTE in response to a personal request by Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose hometown is home to ZTE headquarters.
The ZTE ban appeared entwined in tense U.S.-China trade negotiations. The trade talks have the world’s two largest economies trying to avoid a full-blown trade war, while Mr. Trump simultaneously seeks China’s help in forcing North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.
The Trump administration insisted ZTE was a separate enforcement action.
“Both parties in Congress should come together to stop this deal in its tracks,” said Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat.
Bipartisan opposition already was coalescing.
“Yes they have a deal in mind. It is a great deal… for #ZTE & China,” tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican. “#China crushes U.S. companies with no mercy & they use these telecomm companies to spy & steal from us. Many hoped this time would be different. Now congress will need to act.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican and occasional ally of the president, said ZTE is just plain “bad.”
Mr. Trump has not publicly addressed the opponents in his Republican Party.
In an overwhelming bipartisan vote Thursday, the House passed a defense bill that included language prohibiting government agencies from using ZTE technology and the Pentagon from renewing contracts with companies that work with ZTE.
The bill has to pass the Senate to reach Mr. Trump’s desk, a possible veto and then potentially the first attempted override of a Trump veto by the GOP-run Congress.
The Senate Banking Committee in a 32-2 vote Tuesday advanced legislation that limited the president’s ability to ease sanctions on Chinese telecom companies, requiring the administration first prove to Congress that the company is complying with U.S. law.
Whether the deal with ZTE can clear that hurdle is unclear.
The Senate bill still faces a vote by the full Senate and the House before it could tempt Mr. Trump’s veto pen.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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