ZTE tells suppliers China trade row may be factor in US ban: source

The logo of China's ZTE Corp is seen on a building in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China April 19, 2018. Picture taken April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

NEW YORK: China's ZTE Corp held a conference call on Wednesday with major suppliers, during which a company representative suggested the trade dispute with Beijing may have been a factor in last week's US order banning American firms from selling goods to the smartphone maker, according to a person familiar with the call.

The Commerce Department last week banned American firms from doing business with ZTE after the company violated an agreement reached after it was caught selling US goods to Iran despite US sanctions.