US is worried as it believes China has an advanced EUV chip-making tool. A new report suggests that the American authorities suspect that cutting-edge tech equipment may have reached the rival country, helping it to grow in the semiconductor field.
Bloomberg reported that the US officials are concerned about a presumption that an EUV chip-making tool could have reached China. According to the details, this machine can belong to ASML. But the Dutch firm denied selling such tech to China.
The US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, had raised concerns that one of ASML’s EUV machines had entered the Chinese market, violating the US export rules.
Although the chip-maker ASML stated that it had never made any advanced chipmaking tool (EUV) shipment to China since the US sanctions hit the country.
It added that over the years, the company has consistently adjusted its chip business to any development in export controls to comply with any new regulations. It said:
“ASML has never shipped an EUV machine to China, nor have we shipped to China any component, module, or equipment specially designed to be used in an EUV machine.”
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the Netherlands works with clear rules and control lists when it comes to the export of any chip manufacturing equipment. All components and tech solutions under these rules require a licence.
China’s growth in the semiconductor industry has led the US to think about its export regulations. While the Western authorities believe that the rival country is silently getting some help from its allies, the Chinese firms are working on self-made solutions that can fill the void of the US-based tech products.
(Image Credits: ASML)
