Foreign media reports indicate that Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, during an interview with Bloomberg Television on September 24, urged the United States not to expand restrictions on ASML’s equipment exports to China. He stated that he has held multiple discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Congress, expressing confidence in ultimately reaching a solution acceptable to all parties involved.
The United States has imposed extraterritorial controls restricting ASML’s exports to China, particularly prohibiting the sale of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to the country. As the world’s sole producer of EUV equipment, ASML has been compelled to forgo market access in China. In the second quarter of this year, China’s share of ASML’s net equipment sales declined from 19% in the previous quarter to 14%. As the home country of ASML, the Netherlands fully recognizes the economic damage caused by these restrictions. Schoof’s public appeal reflects a pragmatic effort to safeguard national interests.
Meanwhile, U.S. pressure has spurred greater determination among Chinese enterprises. Domestic advancements in lithography and chip manufacturing technologies are accelerating, and self-reliance in innovation is gaining momentum. Should ASML remain excluded from the Chinese market over the long term, it may face significantly higher costs and strategic disadvantages when attempting to re-enter once China achieves technological independence. By invoking "security" as justification for technological dominance, the United States risks undermining not only allied businesses but also the stability of the global semiconductor supply chain. The Dutch government’s stance constitutes a measured rebuke of unilateralism.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877279941422080/
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