Cruz blocks vote by candidate for Biden trade secretary on Huawei concerns

Cruz blocks vote by candidate for Biden trade secretary on Huawei concerns

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Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz blocks vote on candidate for Biden’s trade secretary over Huawei concerns. Senate Republicans don’t want Trump to testify at the impeachment trial Cruz, star of ‘Princess Bride’ in a duel over politics and entertainment MORE (R-Texas) on Thursday formally suspended the Senate vote on the nomination of Gina RaimondoGina RaimondoCruz blocks vote on candidate for Biden’s trade secretary over Huawei Democrat concerns warns tech companies to ‘step up’ or risk changes to Section 230 On The Money: Biden commits to 400 checks, but open to eligibility limits House approves budget resolution for COVID-19 package | McConnell seeks to inflict political pain on budget votes MORE, President Biden’s choice of trade secretary due to concerns Raimondo has not clarified his position on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.

“I will suspend the wait when Administrator Biden commits to keeping the Chinese Communist Party Huawei’s huge espionage operation on the list of entities,” Cruz tweeted in response to a report by Bloomberg Business stating that he had blocked a vote in Raimondo.

Cruz’s blockade comes after more than a week of criticism by House and Senate Republicans over Raimondo’s comments about Huawei during his confirmation hearing.

The Commerce Department under Trump’s administration added Huawei, one of the world’s largest 5G equipment manufacturers, to its “entity list”, effectively blacklisting the company because of concerns that it posed a spy threat due to to ties with the Chinese government.

Raimondo made it clear that, if confirmed, she “would review the policy, consult you, consult the industry, consult our allies and assess what is best for US national and economic security”, but did not specifically commit to keeping Huawei on the list of entities when Cruz questioned about it during the confirmation hearing.

Later, she made it clear in written answers to questions from members of the Senate Trade Committee that she “had no reason to believe that the entities on those lists should not be there.”

Cruz voted against Raimondo’s approval during the committee’s vote on Wednesday, with Raimondo advancing out of the committee by one 21-3 vote.

“Gina Raimondo’s ethical issues and bland stance towards China, including her refusal to commit to keeping Huawei on the Entity List, are deeply worrying,” Cruz tweeted Wednesday after the committee vote. “That is why I voted against the advance of your nomination and I urge my colleagues to refuse to confirm it.”

The blocking of Raimondo’s indication comes after Cotton and Sens. Ben SasseSenator Ben SasseGOP warns that his party must decide between ‘conservatism and madness’ Cruz blocks Huawei candidate for Biden’s trade candidate vote worries House Republicans urge Senate to block Huawei’s trade secretary vote MORE (R-Neb.) E Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioCruz blocks vote on candidate for Biden’s trade secretary over Huawei Demings concerns over possible Senate candidacy for Florida governor: ‘I’m keeping this door open’ Republicans seek to play the vote-a-rama offensive MORE (R-Fla.) Wrote a letter to Raimondo asking him to clarify his position on keeping Huawei on the list of entities.

A coalition of nearly two dozen House Republicans, led by a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulCruz blocks vote on candidate for Biden’s trade secretary over Huawei concerns Legislators reflect on the status of domestic terrorism after the January 6 attack. (R-Texas), also pressured senators to block voting on Raimondo’s nomination until she made her position on Huawei clear.

McCaul celebrated on Thursday night Cruz’s decision to block Raimondo’s vote.

“As I have repeatedly expressed, #Huawei it is not a normal telecommunications company – it is an arm of #CCPforces that pose a significant threat to US national security and support the CCP’s genocide in Xinjiang, ”McCaul said in a statement tweeted by the committee. “The Biden administration must take this seriously.”

Republicans also questioned the White House’s unclear position on Huawei’s place on the list of entities.

Reporters questioned White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiJudge blocks Texas effort to remove Medicaid Cruz’s planned Parenthood blocks Biden’s trade secretary candidate vote on Huawei’s money concerns: White House considering whether Biden can cancel student loan debt | Senate signals broad support for more targeted relief checks | Romney proposes monthly payments for families with children MORE about Huawei twice since Biden took office, and although she emphasized during press conferences that “telecommunications equipment made by unreliable suppliers, including Huawei, is a threat to the security of the U.S. and our allies”, Psaki has not confirmed whether Huawei will remain on the list.

The Trump administration has put enormous pressure on Huawei, with Trump signing in law last year’s legislation banning the use of federal funds to buy equipment from Huawei, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to classify the company as a national security threat.

Huawei has denied claims that it poses a threat and is currently challenger the FCC designation in court.

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