MENA Newswire News Desk: The Dutch government announced on Friday that it is expanding export restrictions on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, effectively taking over control from the U.S. for shipments of some ASML machines. This move places export licensing requirements for ASML’s TWINSCAN NXT:1970i and 1980i DUV immersion lithography systems under the authority of the Netherlands, rather than the U.S., to destinations outside of the European Union.
The decision comes as the Dutch government views these export controls as a key national security measure. “I’ve made this decision for reasons of security. We see that technological advances have given rise to increased risks associated with exporting this specific manufacturing equipment, especially in the current geopolitical context,” said Reinette Klever, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, in a statement.
ASML, headquartered in the Netherlands and one of the world’s most important semiconductor manufacturers, said the new rules are a “technical change” and are not expected to impact the company’s financial outlook for 2024 or its long-term projections. These measures build on previous restrictions imposed by the Dutch government last year, which already placed licensing requirements on certain semiconductor tools.
The Netherlands’ expanded export restrictions follow a similar move by the U.S., which introduced new controls on technologies critical to national security, including semiconductors and quantum computing. In recent years, Washington has pressured allied countries, including the Netherlands, to adopt similar restrictions on semiconductor exports, particularly to China.
Despite these changes, ASML reiterated that it would continue to comply with all export regulations. The company noted that while the latest licensing requirements pertain to its mid-range DUV lithography systems, more advanced equipment, such as EUV machines, remains restricted from being shipped to Chinese customers under previous agreements.
“The Netherlands holds a unique leadership position in this field, and we take our responsibilities seriously. We’ve proceeded with caution to minimize disruption to global trade flows,” Klever added. This shift in oversight, which aligns Dutch policy more closely with U.S. regulations, underscores the Netherlands’ increasing role in global semiconductor supply chains, particularly as it relates to safeguarding key technologies.