An icon of ASML is displayed on a smartphone, with an ASML chip seen within the background.
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The Dutch authorities on Friday introduced it’s increasing export restrictions on superior semiconductor manufacturing gear, impacting extra of ASML‘s machines.
Extra kinds of chipmaking instruments at the moment are topic to necessities that imply firms should apply for a license from the Dutch authorities slightly than the U.S. authorities to export their gear in another country.
Like different nations, the Netherlands sees such curbs as a key nationwide safety requirement.
“I’ve made this resolution for causes of safety. We see that technological advances have given rise to elevated safety dangers related to the export of this particular manufacturing gear, particularly within the present geopolitical context,” Reinette Klever, minister of overseas commerce and improvement for the Netherlands, mentioned in an announcement.
ASML mentioned in a separate assertion Friday that the newest measures from the federal government mark a “technical change” that aren’t anticipated to have any affect on its monetary outlook for 2024 or for its “longer-term eventualities.”
The expanded restrictions come after the Dutch authorities final 12 months launched its first main export restrictions on superior semiconductor gear exports.
ASML, some of the necessary semiconductor firms on the earth, is headquartered within the Netherlands. The agency makes equipment that’s required to supply probably the most superior chips.
The nation’s newest strikes come after the U.S. on Friday rolled out new export controls on essential applied sciences, together with quantum computing and semiconductor items.
In late 2022, the U.S. launched sweeping guidelines aiming to chop off exports of key chips and semiconductor instruments to China and sought to get allied nations to observe go well with. Washington has pressured nations just like the Netherlands and others to ramp up export curbs on key chipmaking instruments. ASML’s essential position in superior chips has made the Netherlands a key focus for U.S. policymakers.
In its newest assertion, the federal government didn’t title any particular nations that will be of explicit focus for the chip restrictions, stating as an alternative that the foundations apply to exports from the Netherlands to locations outdoors of the European Union.
“The Netherlands has a novel, main place on this space. This entails sure duties, which we take significantly. The Dutch semiconductor business must know what it could actually anticipate. We have now proceeded in a cautious and focused method, in order to minimise the disruption to international commerce flows and worth chains,” Klever mentioned.
Extra ASML instruments require Dutch licenses
ASML makes two kinds of instruments – an excessive ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine and a deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machine.
EUV lithography machines, that are utilized by chipmakers equivalent to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, are required to supply probably the most cutting-edge chips.
DUV lithography machines are used to fabricate different kinds of semiconductors like reminiscence chips, which go into all the things from laptops to telephones.
Each units of machines had been introduced beneath Dutch authorities curbs final 12 months. ASML mentioned the expanded restrictions on Friday imply its TWINSCAN NXT:1970i and 1980i DUV immersion lithography programs will now require a license from the Dutch authorities to be exported.
