AMSTERDAM, Sept 10 (Askume) – The Dutch government clarified on Tuesday that ASML (ASML.AS) needs a licence to provide spare parts and software updates for computer chip manufacturing equipment it previously sold to Chinese customers and now needs to export.
According to a statement from the Dutch Foreign Ministry to Askume, this includes the Dutch governmentIt added two more instruments to its national control list on Friday in a move towards policy coordination with the United States .
The clarification follows confusion over whether the Dutch government plans to impose additional service restrictions on ASML, Europe’s largest technology company, which the ministry said is not the case.
“Repairs…are verified in accordance with licensing requirements (and include)…parts, software and technology specifically developed for the device,” the ministry said in a statement.
It says “this licensing obligation has been extended to September 6, 2024” and also covers ASML’s 1980di and 1970di machines.
ASML said on Friday it did not expect the change to impact its earnings, but declined to comment further.
Friday’s move prompted the Chinese government to protest US-led export controls and call on Chinese and Dutch companies to protect “common interests”.
ASML dominates the market for lithography equipment, which is critical for wafer manufacturers to fabricate circuits on wafers.
Following the first round of restrictions in the Netherlands in 2023, the company instructed its Chinese customers – its third-largest market after Taiwan and South Korea – to apply for licenses to import its state-of-the-art DUV equipment after January 1, 2024.
The Dutch government cooperates and engages closely with the United States on export policy, while China’s support for Russia in the war in Ukraine is a major security issue.
ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said at an event in New York on September 4 that the US government is expected to continue to pressure the company to impose more restrictions on its exports to China.
“This is a bipartisan issue, so I think this will continue no matter what happens in November,” he said, referring to the US presidential election.
He added that the Dutch government is expected to oppose further US sanctions for economic rather than security reasons.
