(Yicai Global) Sep. 3 -- China's telecom equipment maker ZTE has appointed Roscoe C. Howard Jr., partner at Washington's law firm Barnes & Thornburg, as the company's Special Compliance Coordinator for a ten-year term that was predetermined by a settlement agreement with the US. 

Howard will mainly be responsible for coordinating, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on ZTE's compliance with the US settlement agreement and export controls, China's internet giant Tencent's website reported. Howard's responsibility covers the Shenzhen-based firm's global reach, including the company's subsidiaries and affiliates.

The US Commerce Department blocked domestic firms from selling microchips to ZTE on April 16, after the Chinese firm sent goods that contained US technologies to Iran, a country which the States has pressed some sanctions on. The Shenzhen-based company paid a fine of USD1 billion to the US and put USD400 million into an escrow account in order to settle the dispute in June.

According to the Alternative Settlement Agreement and related documents, a SCC was to be selected by the US Bureau of Industry and Security, but hired and paid by ZTE. SCC is an independent position that neither acts as an employee nor an agent for either parties and is not a legal advisor for ZTE.

Editor: Emmi Laine