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From Reuters' coverage of NRC Handelsblad's interview with ASML's CEO Peter Wennink regarding U.S. export restrictions on China:
following U.S. pressure, the Dutch government has already restricted ASML from exporting its most advanced lithography machines to China since 2019, something he said has benefited U.S. companies selling alternative technology.
He said that while 15% of ASML's sales are in China, at U.S. chip equipment suppliers "it is 25 or sometimes more than 30%".
Wennink said it seemed contradictory that U.S. chip manufacturers are able to sell their most advanced chips to Chinese customers, while ASML is only able to sell older chipmaking equipment.
Meanwhile, "it is common knowledge that chip technology for purely military applications is usually 10, 15 years old. (Yet) the technology used to make such chips can still be sold to China," he added.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Sunday December 18, @11:54AM (1 child)
Bullying, eh kiddo? To date, only the export of ASML's EUV lithography machines is forbidden, and that didn't happen because the US said-so. What happened, if you read the original interview, is that the Dutch government simply didn't take a decision to allow the export to China. Let me spell it out clearly for you: long before this happened, the Dutch government already considered ASML's produce to be of key (strategic) value, bound to export restrictions cf. advanced military technology.
As to those export restrictions for key technology, the general rule is: permitted to NATO/EU countries; anything else needs to come before committee. You will now argue that NATO is the fiefdom of the United States, conveniently forgetting the run-up to the Second Iraq War, and overlooking the Mali war. So there's that.
What remains is that China attempted to divide the EU through its 17+1 initiative, is regarded as a systemic competitor by the EU, which has forbidden any strategic Chinese investments since the start of covid, and now has put into place a carbon border tax -- considered the nuclear option [against China] back in 2020.
Maybe, I don't know, the EU being responsible for external commercial relations and all, might have a hand in blocking the export of ASML's EUV lithography machines?
(Score: 2) by gnuman on Monday December 19, @04:43PM
Please read at least TFS
1. it's nothing to do about military - it's about economics
2. military uses older tech anyway
3. export controls are to prevent China from being economic leader
This is done because US doesn't like latest tech going to China but to them instead. So they abuse the security provisions where many believe it's "military" while in reality it's economic security.
Recently, the example is with Russia. There is more than enough "leakage" in the economic domain that Russia will get enough chips for their military. Even North Korea manages that. But the embargoes will definitely cripple the economy. You can definitely get 100s or even 1000s of chips for cruise missiles or other equipment. But you cannot get millions you need for economic development.
The caveat is radiation hardened chips -- those and other niche chips are kind of more difficult to acquire and Russia couldn't get them even before Crimea. Bit if you can make do with commercial versions and can make do with general chips, you are golden.