ASML shares faced downward pressure following a June 19 Bloomberg report regarding U.S. government concerns. U.S. officials warned ASML leadership that an advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine may have been diverted to China. Such a transfer would violate strict export restrictions.
EUV systems are essential for manufacturing cutting-edge semiconductors. International trade laws currently bar the sale of these systems to China.
An ASML spokesperson unequivocally denied the allegations. The company stated it has never shipped an EUV machine, component, or module designed for EUV use to China.
The report introduced new uncertainty for the semiconductor equipment giant. ASML remains a central figure in the global supply chain as U.S.-China tech tensions escalate.