ZTE hired former Trump aide as lobbyist: report

Chinese telecommunications company ZTE hired a former member of the Trump campaign as a lobbyist amid negotiations with President Trump to loosen restrictions hampering the company's ability to do business with the U.S.

The Daily Beast reported that the company hired Bryan Lanza, a former adviser to both the Trump campaign and Trump's White House transition team, just a day after the president tweeted that he was considering helping ZTE regain access to American markets.

"President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!" Trump tweeted last month.

Weeks later, the Trump administration announced a tentative deal to ease the restrictions on the company, a move that faces sharp opposition in Congress. The deal follows a ban from the Commerce Department on any American companies selling selling parts to ZTE for products, a move that the company says will force it out of business without relief.

Lanza came to work for ZTE through Mercury Public Affairs, a Washington lobbying firm that reported its new client in a May 24 document in accordance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The firm said it would “perform government relations and public affairs services, including setting up meetings with U.S. government officials related to U.S. sanctions” on ZTE's behalf, according to The Daily Beast.

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/390397-zte-hired-former-trump-aide-as-lobbyist-report