U.S. Forced Dutch ASML to Cancel China Chip-equipment Sale
The Trump administration has managed to block the sale of Dutch chip manufacturing technology to China, according to Reuters.
The White House has been trying to prevent China from getting hold of a machine required to make the world’s most advanced microprocessors.
According to Reuters, the U.S. campaign began in 2018, after the Dutch government gave semiconductor equipment company ASML, the global leader in the critical EUV lithography chip-making equipment, a license to sell its most advanced machine to a Chinese customer.
According to the report, the Dutch government decided not to renew ASML’s export license, and the $150 million machine has not been shipped to China.
ASML said it is still awaiting approval of a new license request and declined further comment.
ASML has not disclosed the identity of the Chinese customer, but Nikkei Asian Review has reported that it is Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China’s biggest chip-making specialist.
With or without the EUV license, ASML expects its Chinese sales to increase in 2020 as it continues to ship earlier-generation equipment.