Washington: Republican and Democratic US senators introduced legislation on Thursday that would roll back an agreement President Donald Trump's administration announced to ease sanctions on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE Corp.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday the US government had reached a deal with ZTE that reverses a ban on it buying parts from US suppliers, allowing China's No. 2 telecommunications equipment maker to get back into business.

A salesperson stands at counters selling mobile phones produced by ZTE in China. Credit:AP

The Senate measure would restore penalties on ZTE for violating export controls and bar US government agencies from purchasing or leasing equipment or services from ZTE or Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, another major Chinese firm.