ZTE calls US ban 'extremely unfair'

Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp said on Friday it won't accept the United States' ban on the company, which is "extremely unfair" and has ignored all efforts to comply with US export control laws and regulations.

The reply came after the US Department of Commerce banned ZTE earlier this week from buying any US technology for seven years, a decision that may deal a deadly blow to the Chinese company and negatively affect the global telecom industry.

ZTE said on its official website the Shenzhen-based company has devoted tons of resources, including more than $50 million in 2017, to learn and comply with US export control laws and regulations, after pleading guilty in 2016 to violating US sanctions.