U.S. Concerns Grow Over Possible ASML Chipmaking Machine Transfer To China

The United States has raised concerns with ASML over the possibility that one of the Dutch company’s most advanced chipmaking machines may have reached China in breach of export restrictions led by Washington.

According to a Bloomberg News report published on Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick conveyed those concerns during a series of meetings with senior executives at ASML. The discussions focused on whether a high-end semiconductor manufacturing system could have been transferred to China despite strict controls designed to limit access to advanced chip production technology.

Washington Raises Export Restriction Concerns

The reported concerns reflect ongoing efforts by the United States and its allies to restrict China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These measures aim to limit the development of advanced chips that could support strategic and military capabilities.

During the meetings, Lutnick reportedly questioned whether one of ASML’s highly sophisticated machines may have found its way into China. The report did not provide evidence that such a transfer had occurred, but it highlighted the level of scrutiny surrounding the movement of advanced semiconductor equipment.

Neither the U.S. Commerce Department nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment outside normal business hours. ASML was also unavailable for comment when contacted by Reuters.

ASML Rejects The Suggestion

ASML strongly rejected the suggestion that one of its most advanced machines had been supplied to China. The company pointed to the nature of its extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, lithography systems, which are produced in limited numbers and require ongoing maintenance by ASML personnel.

The company stated that these machines are difficult to move, monitor and operate without direct involvement from the manufacturer. As a result, ASML argued that concerns about an undisclosed transfer were unfounded.

An ASML spokesperson said the company had never shipped an EUV machine to China. The spokesperson also stated that ASML had not supplied China with any component, module or equipment specifically designed for use in an EUV system.

Strategic Importance Of EUV Technology

EUV lithography machines are among the most advanced tools used in semiconductor manufacturing. They enable chipmakers to print extremely small circuits onto silicon wafers, making them essential for producing leading-edge semiconductors.

These systems are enormous in scale. An individual EUV machine is roughly the size of a school bus and weighs around 180 tonnes. Their complexity and specialised support requirements make them some of the most sophisticated manufacturing tools in the world.

The debate over access to such technology comes amid broader competition in the semiconductor sector. In December, Reuters reported that Chinese scientists had developed a prototype EUV machine. The project was reportedly led by former ASML engineers and was described as China’s equivalent of the Manhattan Project in terms of strategic importance.

As global competition over semiconductor technology intensifies, advanced chipmaking equipment remains at the centre of export control discussions between governments and industry leaders.

With inputs from Reuters