The Covet: Island of DesireNetherlands announced an expansion of export controls on chip-making machines last Friday, prompting China’s Ministry of Commerce to express dissatisfaction with the move. On Sep. 6, the Dutch government said it would expand export licensing requirements for ASML’s 1970i and 1980i DUV (deep ultraviolet) immersion lithography tools. China criticized the influence of the US government in pressuring other countries to tighten semiconductor export restrictions under the guise of national security, stating it threatens the global semiconductor supply chain and harms the interests of affected countries and companies, according to a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce. China urges the Netherlands to uphold international trade rules and respect market principles to maintain stability and cooperation in the semiconductor industry, the spokesperson added. [China’s Ministry of Commerce, in Chinese]
