Foreign media reports indicate that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently told ASML executives in several meetings that the U.S. is concerned that an EUV lithography machine from the Dutch equipment manufacturer may have entered China. ASML denies this claim, stating that the equipment has never existed in China.
The evidence for the charges has not yet been made public.
Bloomberg, citing informed officials, reported that the U.S. believes ASML shipped EUV-related components and transport equipment to China, but has not publicly presented evidence or stated whether a complete EUV system exists in China. The report noted that such equipment has been banned from export to China since Trump's first term.
If these claims are true, it would be considered a major loophole in the US's recent restrictions on advanced chip exports to China. This is because EUV lithography machines are crucial equipment for manufacturing the most advanced chips, and only ASML can supply them globally.
ASML emphasizes device traceability
The article states that ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said in an interview before the incident came to light that the company could track the whereabouts of every delivered device. These devices were either still running at the customer's site or had been dismantled and recycled.
He also stated that ASML had implemented internal technical segregation measures years ago. Employees with access to EUV technology, documents, and training are managed separately from those without authorization, and the China team is not within their access scope. According to him, the Chinese side has never had access to the complete EUV equipment, therefore there is no basis for replicating the entire machine.
Controversy Affects AI Chip Supply Chain
The article argues that this controversy has garnered attention not only because of an export control allegation, but also because ASML occupies a central position in the global AI chip supply chain. TSMC's advanced processors rely on ASML equipment, while high-end chips from companies like Nvidia and Apple are also linked to this chain.
The report also mentioned that ASML can still sell earlier-generation DUV lithography equipment to China. The company expects that approximately 20% of its revenue in 2026 will come from its licensed operations in China. If a single violation triggers stricter restrictions, it will not only affect this revenue but also its position in the global semiconductor equipment market.
The US Congress is pushing for even stricter restrictions.
The article also mentions that a bipartisan bill in the US Congress is pushing to expand the scope of restrictions beyond EUV, potentially effectively banning ASML from exporting DUV equipment to China. The bill passed a key committee review in April, and the Trump administration has not yet made a formal statement.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce agreed late last year to provide up to $150 million in support to xLight, a lighting technology startup. This was seen as a potential long-term option to challenge ASML's technological dominance. Meanwhile, Substrate, another startup backed by Peter Thiel, is also developing alternatives to EUV.
The article argues that this accusation still needs further verification before the US releases publicly available evidence. However, the struggle surrounding ASML, export restrictions on China, and advanced chip manufacturing capabilities has become a sensitive issue in the AI industry chain.
