Netherlands Curbs more
ASML Exports, in Line with U.S. Rules
Dutch
company is Europe's top semiconductor equipment maker
·
Dutch
government today published an updated license requirement regarding the export of
immersion DUV semiconductor equipment.
·
Immersion
DUV lithographs marked a key advancement in the chip industry.
·
SMIC
and Huawei to access cutting-edge chips, such as the 7-nm grade chips Huawei currently
uses in its flagship phones and AI computing servers.
·
ASML
is the market leader in making lithography machines for advanced chip manufacturing,
while Japan's Canon and Nikon also provide the machines.
The
Netherlands is tightening restrictions on exports of advanced chipmaking machines
from top European semiconductor equipment maker ASML to bring the country's curbs
in line with those of the U.S.
Dutch
curbs introduced in September 2023 restrict exports of the company's most high-end
machines, while Washington unilaterally imposed restrictions that limit shipments
of ASML's less-advanced tools to China.
The
Netherlands' latest curbs now apply to all types of immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV)
lithography equipment, which is essential for making semiconductors at the 40-nanometer
grade and better. Such semiconductors, the government said in a news release, can
be used in advanced military applications, making the restriction of these machines
a matter of national security.
ASML
said it did not expect any material impact from the latest rule change, adding that
the move would streamline the license application process.
"The
Dutch government today published an updated license requirement regarding the export
of immersion DUV semiconductor equipment. ASML believes this requirement will harmonize
the approach for issuing export licenses," the company said in a statement.
"Since this is a technical change, this announcement is not expected to have
any impact on our financial outlook for 2024."
Immersion
DUV lithographs marked a key advancement in the chip industry. Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker, started using the tech
in 2008 with its 40-nm node. This helped the Taiwanese chip titan quickly improve
its production quality.
Such
immersion DUV tools also have the potential to help top Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor
Manufacturing International Corp. continue advancing its own chipmaking capabilities.
From the U.S. government's point of view, shipments of such tools created loopholes
for SMIC and Huawei to access cutting-edge chips, such as the 7-nm grade chips Huawei
currently uses in its flagship phones and AI computing servers.
ASML
is the market leader in making lithography machines for advanced chip manufacturing,
while Japan's Canon and Nikon also provide the machines. No American companies make
such equipment.
Lithography
refers to projecting and printing circuit designs onto wafers. DUV lithography machines
are essential for the production of the majority of chips used in most electronic
devices, including memory chips and processors.
The
announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Commerce Department unveiling new export
curbs on quantum computing, chipmaking tools and other advanced technologies. Washington
said in its own release that it is confident "like-minded" countries will
increase their cooperation in controlling exports of sensitive technologies.