U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has expressed serious concerns to executives at Dutch chip-equipment giant ASML that one of its advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines may have been acquired by China. This would constitute a breach of strict, U.S.-led export restrictions designed to curb China's technological advancement in semiconductor manufacturing.
ASML has denied the allegations, stating it has never shipped an EUV machine to China. The company emphasized that the bus-sized systems are produced in limited quantities and require constant, specialized maintenance by ASML personnel to operate, making an illicit transfer and operation highly improbable. The U.S. concerns highlight the intense pressure on ASML, the world's sole supplier of EUV technology, as it navigates the geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.