Some observers have scrutinised the timing of Trump’s decision to overturn the ZTE ban within days of his daughter receiving trademarks from China relating to her business.
Ivanka Trump received (PDF) initial approval from the Chinese government for five trademark applications relating to her fashion and homeware business mere days before her father announced a U-turn in policy on ZTE.
Experts say the speed in which 34 trademarks related to Ivanka Trump’s business were approved is unusual.
CREW Corruption Concerns
Watchdog group CREW (Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington) raised concerns of corruption.
CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder told the AP the timing “raises significant questions about corruption, as it invites the possibility that [Ivanka Trump] could be benefiting financially from her position and her father’s presidency or that she could be influenced in her policy work by countries’ treatment of her business.”
In an open letter, CREW expands its concerns to claim Donald Trump’s children — Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric, and son-in-law Jared Kushner — all “engage in business activities and trade on their relationship with the president to pursue business deals and accumulate wealth.”
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marco Rubio has raised concerns after saying a bill to stop Chinese telecoms companies from operating in the US would garner super-majority support in Congress.
(Image Credit: Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 2.0)
What are your thoughts on the accusations? Let us know in the comments.
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