The Chinese government has expressed “dissatisfaction” at the US Commerce Department’s decision to impose restrictions on ZTE, the latest in a series of disputes between US authorities and Chinese telecoms vendors. The US said it introduced the sanctions because ZTE allegedly sold telecoms equipment to Iran. Now, ZTE’s suppliers worldwide will have to apply for export licences before shipping any US-made parts or equipment to the Chinese company, and the Commerce Department has said these applications would generally be denied. Between 10% and 15% of the components used in ZTE’s networks and smartphones come from US vendors such as Qualcomm, according to analysts at Nomura. China’s own Commerce Ministry said, in a statement on its website: “China expresses its strong…