Chip machine manufacturer ASML Holding NV on Monday said the Dutch government had partially revoked an export license for the shipment of some chipmaking equipment to China, following US export restrictions.
Shipments included certain lithography systems, the Veldhoven, Netherlands-based company said.
“A license for the shipment of NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems in 2023 has recently been partially revoked by the Dutch government, impacting a small number of customers in China,” the company said.
Photo: Reuters
ASML dominates the market for lithography systems, which use lasers to help create chip circuitry.
The company said it does not expect the revocation or the latest US export control restrictions to have a material impact on its financial outlook for last year.
In the past few years, China has been ASML’s third-largest market after Taiwan and South Korea, but it was the biggest in the third quarter of last year, with 46 percent of the company’s sales.
Last year, the US announced new rules giving Washington the right to restrict exports of ASML’s Twinscan NXT1930Di machine if it contains any US parts.
Soon after, several Dutch lawmakers challenged the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher over whether the US had acted correctly in unilaterally imposing rules regulating the export to China of another ASML chipmaking machine.
“In recent discussions with the US government, ASML has obtained further clarification of the scope and impact of the US export control regulations,” the semiconductor equipment maker said in a statement. “ASML is fully committed to comply with all applicable laws and regulations including export control legislation in the countries in which we operate.”
In response, China called on the Netherlands to respect the law, the business environment and the stability of its and China’s markets, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said yesterday.
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