China has voiced its dissatisfaction with the Dutch government’s decision to broaden export controls on ASML’s chipmaking equipment. The Dutch authorities have introduced stricter export licensing requirements for ASML’s 1970i and 1980i DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) immersion lithography tools. This move aligns Dutch regulations with U.S. export restrictions imposed last year on these advanced machines.
China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized Washington’s strategy of pressuring allies like the Netherlands and Japan to implement export controls targeting Chinese access to high-tech chips and chipmaking equipment. The ministry contended that such measures are part of a broader effort by the United States to maintain its global dominance by coercing other nations to restrict semiconductor technology exports to China. Beijing has called for the Dutch government to avoid using export controls in ways that could damage Sino-Dutch cooperation and urged them to consider the mutual interests of Chinese and Dutch businesses.
The Dutch Trade Minister, Reinette Klever, defended the decision, citing national security concerns as the primary reason for the expansion of export controls. The move underscores the ongoing geopolitical tension surrounding semiconductor technology and highlights the challenges faced by global suppliers like ASML in navigating the complex landscape of international trade and technology restrictions.
