Dutch ASML-technology should not go to China, says American ambassador

The American ambassador to the Netherlands confirmed that the United States does not want Dutch chip producer ASML to share its advance chip-making machines with everyone.

In an interview with Financieele Dagblad, Pete Hoekstra said that this technology “does not belong in certain places”. According to the newspaper, he was referring to China. “We have made it very clear to the Dutch: we believe that this is particularly sensitive technology that does not belong in certain places,” Hoekstra said. Reuters also recently reported that the United States pressured the Dutch government into blocking the sale of an ASML chip machine to Chinese customer SMIC. “Friends do no have to threaten each other. That’s not how we treat each other,” Hoekstra said to FD. “We understand that the Dutch government is between two fires, and that this is a very difficult decision. But that’s just what governments have to do every day: make difficult decisions.” […]

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