(Telecompaper) The US Commerce Department has confirmed the amendment of an export rule with the specific purpose of restricting Huawei's ability to use US technology and software to design and manufacture its semiconductors abroad. In a statement, the department said the amendment to the longstanding foreign-produced direct product rule is designed to "cut off Huawei's efforts to undermine US export controls" and to "narrowly and strategically target Huawei's acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain US software and technology."