The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday granted a temporary reprieve to ZTE Corp. that allows China's No. 2 telecommunications equipment-maker to conduct business needed to maintain existing networks and equipment in the United States as it works toward the lifting of a U.S. sales ban.

The authorization from the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Services, dated July 2 and which was seen by Reuters, runs until Aug. 1.

ZTE and spokespeople for the U.S. Department of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.