US-China tech war intensifies: US presses Netherlands to expand ban on chip tech sales to China. -- China Boss update 7.08.22

Update

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What’s happening.

“The US is pushing the Netherlands to ban ASML Holding NV from selling to China mainstream technology essential in making a large chunk of the world’s chips,” Bloomberg reported.

Bloomberg:

Washington’s proposed restriction would expand an existing moratorium on the sale of the most advanced systems to China, in an attempt to thwart China’s plans to become a world leader in chip production. If the Netherlands agrees, it would broaden significantly the range and class of chipmaking gear now forbidden from heading to China, potentially dealing a serious blow to Chinese chipmakers from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd. 

The Netherlands has not yet agreed to bar additional ASML exports to China, but a company spokesman suggested American officials and their Dutch counterparts have been discussing the matter for some time, saying that “[t]he discussion is not new," before refusing to comment further.

Washington is also lobbying Japan to end sales of similar technology to Chinese chipmakers, Bloomberg’s sources said. That would most likely involve restricting Japanese multinational Nikon from exporting to China, Bloomberg said.

Why it matters.

Curbing China’s technological rise remains US policy under Biden