'US wants to prevent ASML from maintaining certain lithography machines in China'

The United States wants to prevent ASML from maintaining certain lithography machines of Chinese customers. Insiders report this to the Reuters news agency. The American government wants to urge the Netherlands to do this next week.

Two insiders report to Reuters that Alan Estevez, the head of export policy of the United States, will be in the Netherlands next Monday. He will then meet representatives of the Dutch government and ASML to discuss maintenance contracts with Chinese companies. Washington may also want more Chinese chip factories to be imposed restrictions on the sale of lithography machines. It is not known what the position of the Dutch government is on this issue. The government did not respond to questions from Reuters. ASML and the US Department of Commerce declined to comment, the news agency writes.

The US government has been trying to limit Chinese progress in the field of chips for some time. That started when former President Donald Trump blacklisted companies like Huawei. As a result, companies needed a license to do business with the Chinese telecom giant. The administration of current President Joe Biden also introduced far-reaching export restrictions on advanced chips and the machines to produce such chips. The Netherlands previously introduced export restrictions on certain DuV immersion lithography machines to China after the Americans insisted.

The TwinScan NXT:2100i, which has been subject to export restrictions to China since January 1. Source: ASML