According to a statement released on the official website of lithography giant ASML on September 6th, the Dutch government announced the latest licensing requirements for the export of immersion DUV semiconductor equipment on the same day. This requirement will come into effect on September 7, 2024.
According to the updated license requirements and in accordance with U.S. Export Administration Regulation 734.4. (a) (3) According to regulations, ASML will need to apply for an export license for TWINSCAN NXT: 1970i and 1980i DUV immersion lithography systems from the Dutch government instead of the US government. The TWINSCAN NXT: 2000i and subsequent DUV immersion systems are now required to obtain a Dutch export license. The sales of ASME EUV systems are also subject to license requirements.
ASML stated in a statement that as this is a technical change, it is expected that this announcement will not have any impact on the company's financial outlook for 2024 or the long-term plan conveyed by the company during the investor date in November 2022.
As of the close of the US stock market on Friday local time, ASML's stock price has plummeted by over 5%.
Does the US frequently exert pressure on the center?
In October 2023, the United States began unilaterally blocking the export of some mid-range equipment from ASML. Recently, the United States has been exerting frequent pressure.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg on the Voice of America radio website on July 17th, the White House has informed allies that the United States is considering the strictest trade restrictions to prevent any companies from continuing to provide advanced semiconductor technology to China.
The report states that the United States is studying whether to use a measure called the Foreign Direct Products Rule. This measure refers to the requirement that if a certain product is manufactured using American technology, even if only a small amount is used, the relevant country's government must impose strict control on this product, and the US government has the right to prevent the sale of this product. This rule also applies to products manufactured abroad.
Bloomberg said that the United States has explained the basic meaning of this rule to officials in Japan and the Netherlands, and if these countries do not strictly control exports to China, the US government will eventually have to use this rule.
At that time, Bloomberg quoted insiders as saying that these measures were expected to apply to well-known companies such as Tokyo Electronics in Japan and ASML in the Netherlands.
On July 17th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to relevant questions at a regular press conference, stating that China has repeatedly expressed a firm stance on the malicious blockade and suppression of China's semiconductor industry by the United States. The United States politicizes, securitizes, and instrumentalizes economic, trade, and technological issues, continuously increases its control over chip exports to China, coerces other countries to suppress China's semiconductor industry, seriously undermines international trade rules, damages global supply chain stability, and is detrimental to any party. China has always firmly opposed this.
Lin Jian expressed the hope that relevant countries can distinguish right from wrong, resolutely resist coercion, jointly maintain a fair and open international economic and trade order, and truly safeguard their own long-term interests.
In addition, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 6th, a reporter asked that the US Department of Commerce announced yesterday that due to national security considerations, the US will further strengthen export restrictions on technologies such as quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing. What is China's comment on this?
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China has always opposed the politicization and weaponization of economic, trade, and technological issues by the United States. We believe that artificially setting obstacles to normal technological cooperation and economic and trade exchanges violates the principles of market economy, disrupts the stability of the global supply chain, and is not in the interests of any party.
The Dutch Prime Minister has stated that he will weigh the benefits and risks
Previously, regarding the issue of whether to further restrict the export of Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML to China, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoff stated that when making a decision, the Dutch government will consider ASML's economic interests and weigh the benefits and risks. For the Netherlands, ASME is a very important innovative industry and should not suffer losses under any circumstances.
It is reported that Chinese Mainland is the third largest market for Asme, and local customers account for about 20% of the orders that Asme has not delivered at present.
Bloomberg News reported on August 29th that the Netherlands plans to impose more restrictions on ASML's chip business in China.
According to the previous regulations of the Dutch government, ASML's high-end product exports must obtain a license. In October 2023, the United States began unilaterally blocking the export of some mid-range equipment from ASML, which sparked questioning from the Dutch parliament.
Both CEOs oppose restrictions on exports to China
In July of this year, Christopher Fukai, CEO of ASML, and his predecessor Peter Winnick gave separate media interviews opposing US restrictions on ASML's exports to China.
According to the German newspaper "Handelsblatt" on the 9th, Fukai told the newspaper that restricting ASML's export of chip production equipment to China is unwise and also harms Western interests.
He said that the current automotive industry, especially the German automotive industry, urgently needs a large number of chips manufactured using mature technology. The West has invested very little in this area, and Europe cannot even meet half of its demand. The chips urgently needed by the West are being produced in China, and it is irrational to prevent others from producing what you need.
According to a recent report by BNR Radio in the Netherlands, Wenning Ke told the radio station that the United States is pushing for restrictions on chip exports to China based on ideology, "rather than facts, content, numbers, or data".
He said that ASML has had customers and employees in China for over 30 years, who have been contributing to ASML's business development, so the company has an obligation to them as well. Wenning Ke stated that he will lobby as much as possible to prevent severe export restrictions.
According to the reference news quoted from the Voice of Germany radio website in July, in the third quarter of 2023, the sales of Chinese Mainland accounted for 46% of the overall sales of Asmar. Wenning Ke had told investors in October last year that the US restrictions would affect about 15% of the company's sales to China. Wenning Ke has publicly opposed these measures, warning that these restrictions will encourage China to develop new technologies and pose a threat to ASML. He said, "The greater the pressure you apply, the more likely China is to double its efforts
Wenning Ke began serving as the CEO of ASML in 2013 and stepped down in April 2024, to be succeeded by Fukai.
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