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China has expressed “dissatisfaction” with the Dutch government’s decision to broaden export restrictions on ASML’s chip-making tools, aligning with U.S. sanctions.
This reaction was conveyed by China’s commerce ministry on Sunday, as reported by Reuters.
China says "dissatisfied" with new Dutch export controls on ASML chipmaking tools https://t.co/DSRboxMCh4 pic.twitter.com/WLtPoU5ixo
— Reuters Tech News (@ReutersTech) September 8, 2024
On Friday, September 6, the Dutch government announced it would extend export licensing for ASML’s 1970i and 1980i DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) immersion lithography tools. This decision aligns Dutch regulations with unilateral export restrictions the United States imposed on these machines last year.
Beijing has consistently condemned Washington’s approach of urging its allies, including the Netherlands and Japan, to adopt export restrictions to limit China’s access to advanced chips and chip-making technology.
In response to the Dutch government’s decision to tighten export restrictions, China’s commerce ministry reiterated its strong opposition, accusing the U.S. of seeking global dominance. The ministry also urged the Dutch not to misuse export controls, emphasizing the need to avoid harming Sino-Dutch semiconductor cooperation and mutual business interests.
U.S. lobbying has halted ASML, the top chip-making equipment vendor, from exporting its advanced lithography systems to China. Dutch Trade Minister Reinette Klever said the decision was made “for our safety.”
China’s Technology Sanctions
Under the Trump administration, sanctions on China’s technology began in 2019, restricting American companies from working with Huawei, ZTE, and other firms due to alleged military ties. In 2022, the U.S. extended these restrictions to prevent the sale of advanced EUV lithography machines to China to limit its progress in AI and supercomputing. By November 2023, the Dutch government imposed similar sanctions, but ASML continued to sell older DUV lithography equipment to China.
Despite these restrictions, China’s imports of semiconductor manufacturing machinery have surged to a record $26 billion in 2024 as it seeks to counter U.S. and European sanctions.
