China's ZTE halts share trading following US export ban

Chinese telecom giant ZTE halted trading of its shares in Hong Kong and Shenzhen today following the announcement of a US ban on its purchase of sensitive technology that drew a pledge from China to "safeguard" its companies if necessary.

In a statement on its web site, the company said it was "assessing the possible impact of the incident".

Before today's open, ZTE said it would halt trading "pending the release of an inside information announcement".

Following an investigation into the illegal sale of goods to Iran and North Korea, the company pleaded guilty in March 2017 to unlawful exports and was hit with $1.2 billion in fines, the largest criminal penalty in US history in an export control case.

But US Commerce Department investigators said it made additional false statements multiple times about having taken actions against the employees responsible, when it had not.

In a statement on its web site, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said "China has always asked Chinese enterprises to abide by the host country's laws and policies and operate legally and properly in the process of overseas operation."
"ZTE has launched extensive trade and investment cooperation with hundreds of American businesses, and contributing tens of thousands of jobs to the United States," it added, saying that it was "ready to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."