The Minister of Trade of the Netherlands, Lizier Schreinemacher, has expressed that the Cabinet of Ministers is not against the new US rules regarding the largest technological company in Europe. However, she believes that “this issue should be resolved in a more European way” during a parliamentary debate. The statement comes after the United States announced new rules giving them the right to limit the export of ASML’s Twinscan NXT1930DI machine, which is produced in Veldhoven and could potentially contain American components, as reported by Reuters.
The Twinscan NXT1930DI machine, a deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithographic machine, is capable of producing advanced computer microcircuits, as well as medium-sized and old generation chips. The US policy behind the new rules aims to slow down China’s technological and military progress.
ASML, the dominant player in the lithograph equipment market, believes that the US rules will be followed and expects new restrictions to only affect a small number of Chinese factories capable of producing “advanced semiconductors”.
The United States has been pressuring the Netherlands government since 2019 to prevent the export of its most advanced cars to China. In response, the Dutch government implemented licensing requirements for less advanced machines, excluding the 1980DI tool.
China is historically the third largest market for ASML after Taiwan and South Korea. However, the Netherlands is currently negotiating with the United States on restrictions and seeks to involve other EU member states for a coordinated approach.
Minister Schreinemacher has already engaged in conversations with her counterparts in other countries, including European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner in the domestic market Thierry Breton, to address this issue collectively.