Dutch lithography giant caught in crossfire amid escalating tensions
The Biden administration is pressing allied nations including Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands – home to photolithography giant ASML – to impose additional measures to prevent Beijing from advancing its chipmaking efforts, despite the existing restrictions.
While the company's most advanced extreme ultraviolet systems were already barred from export to China, the Dutch government brought in new restrictions covering some of its deep ultraviolet kit as well.Now it appears the US wants the Netherlands to go even further, and prevent ASML from servicing and repairing chipmaking equipment that Chinese clients purchased before the restrictions were put into place.
We asked the US Department of Commerce to confirm that Washington wants allies to further tighten export restrictions to China, and if it would comment on the specific claim about ASML. We understand the Netherlands wants closer collaboration between European Union member states on the implementation of export controls, following last year's events.