ASML calls US Match Act chip export proposal 'unbalanced'
ASML's finance chief Roger Dassen opposes a proposal in the US Congress that would restrict more of the Veldhoven company's chip machines in China, a market worth about a fifth of its revenue.
Chip machine maker ASML of Veldhoven is hoping the United States will drop further limits on chip technology exports to China. Chief financial officer Roger Dassen criticises the Match Act, a proposal in the US Congress that would allow such restrictions to be enforced. He hopes US politicians will also realise after next month's midterm elections that it is not a good idea.
Members of Congress have proposed extra restrictions for ASML's second-most advanced chip machines. The company's best machines were already barred from going to China. The proposal would also ban ASML from doing maintenance work on chip machines in China.
Dassen calls the proposal "onevenwichtig" (unbalanced). He says it asks for restrictions on technology that is already eleven years old. "The Match Act even wants to make that technology impossible in China," he said.
Dassen does not think it is realistic to stop Chinese technological development this way. At most, he says, it could slow it somewhat. He argues the act could even make the Chinese copy Western technology illegally faster.
For those reasons we think the Match Act is not a good idea. And I am always optimistic that common sense will win in this discussion.Roger Dassen, ASML chief financial officer
The act could hit ASML financially. The company currently depends on the Chinese market for about a fifth of its revenue. Dassen has said before that ASML could probably absorb a loss of sales in China through extra orders from customers elsewhere.
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ASML (ASML Holding N.V.)
ASML is a Dutch technology company based in Veldhoven that makes lithography machines, the equipment used to print patterns onto silicon wafers when chips are manufactured. Its most advanced systems are sold to chipmakers worldwide and are central to the global semiconductor supply chain. Because these machines are subject to export controls, the company's sales to certain countries, including China, are closely watched by Dutch and international governments.