The Dutch government is set to impose restrictions on the country’s most advanced microchip technology exports, including products by chip equipment maker ASML, in a bid to protect national security. The move comes after the US made a similar decision as semiconductors, which power everything from mobile phones to military hardware, become central to the US-China trade dispute. China has now launched a formal complaint against the Netherlands, stating it hoped the country would not “follow the abuse of export control measures by certain countries”.
“The Netherlands considers it necessary on national and international security grounds that this technology is brought under control as soon as possible”, said Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, adding that “the technological developments and geopolitical context” had been considered. Under the new rules, firms will have to apply for licences to export the “most advanced Deep Ultra Violet (DUV) immersion lithography and deposition”.
READ ALSO:
TikTok launches security measures to reassure users over data sharing concerns
Revolutionary Car Fitted with Surveillance Technology Developed by Abu Dhabi Company Tatweer
The measures are expected to impact ASML’s “most advanced immersion DUV systems”. However, the company stated that it does not expect the restrictions to have a significant effect on its financial outlook. Since 2019, the Dutch government has stopped ASML from selling its most advanced lithography machines to China.
China has frequently called the US a “tech hegemony” in response to Washington’s export controls. Dexter Roberts, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank, said the Dutch move was “a real step forward, a real victory for the US and also very bad news for China” and warned that “US-China relations are already in a pretty bad place. This clearly will make things even worse”.