Tech war: ASML CEO sees US pressure building for more China semiconductor restrictions
The Dutch firm has a monopoly on making the lithography machines that help the world’s largest semiconductor foundries produce advanced chips
“If you look at the geopolitical landscape, I think it’s clear that the US will continue to apply pressure on their allies for more restrictions,” Fouquet said in an interview during the Bloomberg Tech Summit in London on Tuesday. “The question is what is right for the Netherlands? What is right for Europe?”
Washington has been aiming for years to limit China’s rise in the semiconductor sector, through repeated rounds of export controls that have targeted the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips and chip-making equipment. The Dutch government has struggled to find a middle ground between its US ally and the biggest market for its biggest company.
Fouquet said much of ASML’s business with China is focused on mature technology that is less relevant to national security concerns.