The phone contains a chip that analysts believe was made with a technology breakthrough by Semiconductor International Manufacturing Corp (SMIC) (0981.HK). "This chip likely could not be produced without US technology and thus SMIC may have violated the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Direct Product Rule," Gallagher said in a statement. SMIC was added to the so-called entity list in December 2020, over fears it could divert advanced technology to military users. The trade restrictions imposed on Huawei and SMIC include the Foreign Direct Product Rule meant to bar any company anywhere in the world from using tools from the United States to manufacture a chip for Huawei. But suppliers to Huawei and SMIC have received billions of dollars' worth of licenses to sell U.S. technology to the companies despite their being on the trade lists, Reuters has previously reported.

---

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Biden, Gallagher, SMIC, Stephen Nellis, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Commerce, Huawei, Representatives, Republican, Semiconductor International Manufacturing Corp, HK, of Commerce’s, SMIC, Foreign, Reuters, U.S, Commerce Department's, Thomson Locations: China, United States, San Francisco