ASML Ordered to Curb Certain Chip Equipment Exports to China
The Netherlands “partially revoked” an ASML export license that allowed the Dutch chip equipment maker to send certain advanced semiconductor equipment to China, ASML said Jan. 1. The company said it now faces new restrictions on exports of NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems to China, which it said will affect a “small number” of customers in the country.
The company also said it has had “recent discussions” with the U.S. government about the Biden administration's latest chip export controls published Oct. 17, 2023 (see 2310170055), and “has obtained further clarification of the scope and impact of the US export control regulations.” Those controls, which updated the initial set of U.S. restrictions released Oct. 7, 2022 (see 2310180005), “impose restrictions on certain mid critical” deep ultraviolet immersion lithography systems “for a limited number of advanced production facilities,” ASML said.
“We do not expect the current revocation of our export license or the latest U.S. export control restrictions to have a material impact on our financial outlook for 2023,” the company said. “ASML is fully committed to comply with all applicable laws and regulations including export control legislation in the countries in which we operate.”
ASML didn’t specify which portions of its license were revoked and which customers would be affected.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a Jan. 2 regular press conference in Beijing that the Netherlands should “respect the spirit of contract” and “take concrete actions to protect the shared interests of China and the Netherlands and the companies of the two countries.” China will “closely follow relevant developments and resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the spokesperson said, according to a transcript in English.
The spokesperson also objected to the U.S. “overstretching the national security concept and using all sorts of pretexts to coerce other countries into joining its technological blockade against China.” ASML announced new chip export controls last year after being pushed by the U.S. to restrict more of its sensitive technology exports to China (see 2306300028).