Story perspectives

US Claims ASML Sent EUV to China; DUV Ban Looms

6/20/2026

Summary

Lutnick Accuses ASML

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ASML executives the U.S. believes an ASML EUV machine operates in China, violating export controls.
ASML denied shipping any EUV machine or components to China, while U.S. officials say they have evidence of such shipments.
A bill cleared a committee to ban ASML DUV shipments to China, covering a fifth of its 2026 revenue, causing its shares to fall to 2.3% after the allegations.

Summary

Dutch Enforces Controls

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said semiconductor equipment covered by the European Dual-Use Regulation requires a licence and is strictly enforced.
Authorities will intervene wherever necessary to uphold those export controls.
Reuters reported that Chinese scientists built a prototype EUV lithography machine with former ASML engineers.
The April U.S. proposal would require allied countries to harmonise export-control regimes with American rules and specifically name ASML equipment.

History

Historical Context

In 1999 the U.S. Commerce Department placed high-performance supercomputers on the Entity List, invoking Cold-War-era CoCom controls that sharply reduced export licences. The ongoing regulatory framework now underlies U.S. accusations that Dutch lithography firm ASML violated export rules by sending EUV equipment to China, reviving the earlier broader sanctions precedent.

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Lutnick Accuses ASML

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ASML executives the U.S. believes an ASML EUV machine operates in China, violating export controls.
ASML denied shipping any EUV machine or components to China, while U.S. officials say they have evidence of such shipments.
A bill cleared a committee to ban ASML DUV shipments to China, covering a fifth of its 2026 revenue, causing its shares to fall to 2.3% after the allegations.

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