Chính phủ Hà Lan cấm ASML bảo dưỡng các công cụ wafer được lắp đặt tại Trung Quốc

3-Sep-2024: The Netherlands is poised to restrict ASML’s ability to service its advanced wafer fab equipment in China, according to Bloomberg. This move could significantly hinder China’s semiconductor ambitions, potentially impacting the production capabilities of SMIC, China’s leading chipmaker.

The Dutch government plans to let certain licenses expire at the end of the year, specifically those related to ASML’s advanced DUV lithography machines. This decision could render some equipment unusable by next year, following pressure from the United States to align export controls with U.S. policies aimed at limiting China’s semiconductor advancements.

The U.S. has indicated it might impose unilateral measures, like the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), if partners like the Netherlands do not comply. This rule allows the U.S. to control the export of foreign products that incorporate even minimal U.S. technology.

The restrictions could impact SMIC’s ability to produce chips on its 7nm and 5nm process technologies, potentially disrupting the production of advanced chips for companies like Huawei. While SMIC has already installed some of ASML’s advanced DUV lithography machines, the lack of maintenance and spare parts could render these machines inoperable by 2025.

The impact on ASML could also be substantial, given that nearly half of its sales came from China in the second quarter. However, the majority of fab tools installed in China are used for older chipmaking technologies that are not subject to U.S. restrictions.

This development highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding semiconductor technology and the efforts to limit China’s technological advancements. The move by the Netherlands could have significant implications for the global semiconductor industry and the future of chipmaking in China.