The United States and the Netherlands will hold a new round of talks this month on restricting exports of advanced chip technology to China, sources said, with Washington expected to increase its efforts to include Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML Holding NV in the blockade. Great pressure.
Tarun Chhabra, a senior National Security Council official, and Alan Estevez, the undersecretary of commerce for industry and security, will travel to the Netherlands for talks, according to people familiar with the matter.
The two sides will discuss expanding export controls as the U.S. has been pressuring the Dutch government to stop AsML from selling a wide range of advanced chip-making equipment to China, people familiar with the matter said. However, people familiar with the matter do not expect a new round of talks to reach a deal. The visit is part of ongoing bilateral talks between the two countries, which will also discuss other aspects of the U.S.-Dutch technology partnership, one of the people said.
ASML has been unable to sell its most advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines in China. But Washington has been pushing for the ban to be extended to more mature technology areas.
Bloomberg reported in July that U.S. officials were lobbying Dutch authorities to ban AsML from selling some older deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines. These machines are a generation behind advanced technology, but are still the most commonly used devices to make some of the non-advanced chips needed in cars, cell phones, computers and even robots.
Estevez said last week that a deal with allies to limit exports of chip technology to China is expected "in the near term."
