"The United States calls for a ban on the sale of more chip equipment to China, and the Netherlands resists." Bloomberg reported on the 22nd that Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Schreinermaher said on the same day that the Netherlands will defend its economic interests on the issue of selling chip equipment to China. The report commented that this statement by a senior Dutch official once again shows that the Netherlands is unwilling to comply with Washington's attempt to cut off China's semiconductor technology supply.
Bloomberg reported: The United States calls for a ban on the sale of more chip equipment to China, and the Netherlands resists.
In order to restrict China, the Dutch lithography machine manufacturer ASML has recently become the target of pressure from the US government. According to reports, Schreinermaher told lawmakers on the 22nd that in the process of trade rules negotiations between the United States and other allies, the Netherlands will make its own decision on ASML's sale of chip equipment to China. "It's important that we defend our interests — our national security, and our economic interests." Schreinamaher said that if the Netherlands put the issue of lithography machines into the "EU basket" to negotiate with the United States, and the result is that they send extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to the Americans, "we will be worse off". Bloomberg said that extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines are high-end chip manufacturing equipment produced by ASML.
Data map of ASML, a manufacturer of lithography machines in the Netherlands
This is not the first time Schreinermaher has spoken out on the export of chip manufacturing equipment to China, in an interview with the New Rotterdam Handelsblatt (NRC) on the 18th, she said that the United States should not expect the Netherlands to adopt its export restrictions to China without objection, "The Netherlands will not copy the measures of the United States (exports to China) one by one." Schreinermaher said at the time: "We will make our own assessment — we did so in consultation with partner countries such as Japan and the United States." She also mentioned: "Our export licensing policy is already restricted. Schreinamaher said the Netherlands may impose certain export control measures on China on its own, but she did not specify this.
Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Schreiner Maher Source: Bloomberg
According to US media reports, the United States introduced a series of new rules on October 7, prohibiting the sale of certain chips made using American equipment to China. A number of Western media reported that the United States is also encouraging and wooing allies to join the camp of suppressing Chinese semiconductors. Bloomberg mentioned that the US Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Alan Estevez, will travel to the Netherlands this month to discuss export controls. The United States has not only pressured the Dutch government to refuse to approve ASML's sale of state-of-the-art lithography machines to China, but has also been trying to demand that the company be banned from selling some old lithography machines to China. Foreign media previously reported that due to the impact of the US export ban on China, ASML's orders in the third quarter have decreased. Regarding Biden's readiness to put pressure on Japan and the Netherlands to stop the flow of chip technology to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on November 7 that the US move was not the work of a dignified big country. Of course, it is nothing new for the United States to abuse its national power, rely on technological superiority, and coerce the economy of its allies to maintain its own hegemonic selfish interests. The United States politicizes, instrumentalizes and ideologizes science and technology, economic and trade issues, and engages in technological blockade and decoupling of other countries. Trying to block someone else's way will only block your own path in the end. We hope that the parties concerned will uphold an objective and impartial stance, proceed from their own long-term interests and the fundamental interests of the international community, and make correct judgments independently and independently. Bloomberg reported on the 22nd that EU negotiators are consulting with the United States on some controversial trade issues. Some countries, including France, said that the measures could harm the European economy and said they could file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. These issues will be the subject of a high-level meeting between EU and US officials, the Trade and Technology Council, early next month.
(Global Times)