WASHINGTON: A US top official was heading to Japan following meeting with the Dutch government to urge his allies to further limit China’s ability to produce cutting-edge semiconductors, Reuters reported.
Two officials told Reuters news agency that Alan Estevez, the US export policy head, is visiting both nations this week as part of attempts to expand a 2023 deal between the three nations to keep chipmaking equipment from China that could help to modernize its army.
In a response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated Beijing was opposed to the US “coercing other nations and suppressing Beijing’s semiconductor industry. In a press briefing, Lin Jian said that this behavior has seriously delayed the development of the international semiconductor industry and will finally backfire.
A spokesperson for the Dutch foreign ministry has also confirmed that a meeting took place in the Netherlands on Monday over the matter. Japan’s industry ministry stated that it has several exchanges with the US but would not comment on diplomatic interactions.
Washington first imposed restrictions in 2022 on shipments of advanced chips and chipmaking equipment to Beijing from firms including California-based Nvidia and Lam Research.
Last July, to align with Washington’s policy, Japan, home to chip equipment makers Nikon Corp and Tokyo Electron, restricted exports of 23 types of equipment, from machines that deposit films on silicon wafers to devices that etch out the microscopic circuits, Reuters reported.
Then the Dutch government has rolled out a licensing requirement for Netherlands-based ASML’s deep ultraviolet (DUV) semiconductor equipment to China, leading the firm to explain Chinese customers should not expect to receive its best machines following Jan. 1 2024. ASML is the world’s major chip equipment maker by sales and market capitalization, Reuters reported.
The United States later imposed restrictions on additional DUV machines to a handful of Chinese firms, claiming jurisdiction because ASML’s systems contain some US components and parts.
The U.S. is talking to the allies regarding adding more Chinese chipmaking firms to that restricted list, Reuters reported. However, a spokesman for the US Commerce Department has refused comment over the matter
The Dutch Foreign Ministry stated Monday’s meeting was part of the current talks on export policy and security between the Netherlands and the US. According to media reports, American officials also visited the Netherlands in April to try to halt ASML from servicing some equipment in China. Under US rules, US companies are barred from servicing equipment at advanced factories in China.
Reuters cited sources as saying that ASML’s current servicing contracts are still in place. It added that one said the issue remains under discussion and the Dutch government has not agreed to Washington’s requests but does not rule out doing so. However, ASML refused to comment over the current development.
A right-wing Dutch government is due to assume office in early July, making it very difficult to agree any major change on export restrictions.
