Washington — Chinese telecoms companies such as ZTE and Huawei face severely tightened access to the US market despite the Trump administration’s deal to give ZTE a lifeline after it agreed to a fine. Amid persistent worries that their phones, routers and other products will open a path for Beijing’s spying on the US, analysts say the US government will remain broadly closed to products of the two companies and that the US telecoms industry will remain under pressure to avoid their equipment. Four Democratic and Republican senators, criticising the deal that will permit ZTE to resume purchasing US electronics components, have proposed legislation for an outright ban on the government buying products and services from ZTE and Huawei.
"Huawei and ZTE pose a serious threat to America’s national security. These companies have direct links to the Chinese government and Communist Party," said Republican senator Marco Rubio. "Their products and services are used for espionage and int...
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