The United States has long pressured the Netherlands to restrict ASML's exports to China
For a long time, the United States has been putting pressure on the Netherlands, requiring the Netherlands to take various restrictive measures against the export of advanced lithography machines by the Dutch lithography giant ASML to China. The United States has used various means, such as the threat of economic sanctions, to put pressure on the Netherlands, with the aim of forcing the Netherlands to ban ASML from exporting the most advanced lithography machines to China.
The reason why the United States did this is mainly because it is worried that after these advanced lithography machines flow into China, it will boost the development of China's chip industry. Advanced lithography machines are very critical equipment in chip manufacturing, and if China has these equipment, China's chip industry will make leaps and bounds. This poses a threat to the long-term control of the global chip industry by the United States. Therefore, the United States will do whatever it takes to curb this trend.
Under pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and the United States have held several rounds of negotiations on the export of lithography machines to China. However, the two sides disagreed on the specific measures to be restricted, and the negotiations eventually broke down. The Netherlands believes that a complete ban on the export of lithography machines to China will cause too much damage to the interests of Dutch enterprises. And the United States insists on completely cutting off China's access to such sensitive equipment. The positions of the two countries were difficult to reconcile, and the negotiations reached an impasse.
The breakdown of the negotiations also shows that the Netherlands will not completely succumb to US pressure. The Netherlands will still have to find a balance between protecting its own corporate interests and pandering to the United States. This leaves the possibility for ASML to continue to supply lithography machines to China to some extent.
ASML reached out to the U.S. to reason for the easing of restrictions
Recently, ASML suddenly reached out to the United States to seek to ease restrictions on lithography machine sales in the Chinese market. The move came as a surprise to many. The main reason is that ASML is worried that Huawei's self-developed Kirin 9000 chip represents a major progress in China's chip manufacturing level, and may squeeze ASML's share of the Chinese market in the future.
Huawei's Kirin 9000 uses a 5nm process and has strong performance, making it Huawei's first self-designed high-end chip. Industry analysts believe that the birth of this chip shows that China has made great progress in chip manufacturing technology and has mastered many core process technologies.
If Chinese chip companies have more and more independent manufacturing technology, their dependence on imported lithography machines will decrease. This is a huge threat to ASML. ASML hopes to slow down the progress of China's independent research and development of lithography machines and maintain its dominant position in the Chinese market by reaching out to the United States to seek to ease restrictions.
In addition, the Japanese lithography machine giant Nikon has also launched a new generation of ladder lithography machine, the advantage of this lithography machine is the best discount, but also has a certain impact on ASML's Chinese market. Nikon's lithography machines may be more competitive in terms of price/performance ratio. If China chooses to buy relatively cheap equipment from Japan to develop the chip industry, it will also weaken ASML's sales in China.
Under double pressure, ASML decided to take the initiative and put pressure on the United States, hoping to open up the situation in the Chinese market. But this is still a difficult move, and it is difficult to say whether it can be repaid as desired.
A deal to ease restrictions remains unlikely
Although ASML took the initiative to negotiate with the United States, it is still very difficult to reach an agreement to relax restrictions on lithography machines in China. The United States has never relaxed its restrictions on China in the field of high-end chips, and it has always been in a strict state. As the world's top lithography machine manufacturer, ASML is the focus of US control. It is unlikely that the United States will easily loosen its grip on ASML.
Unless there is a major turnaround in the U.S.-China relationship as a whole, it will be difficult for the United States to make concessions on its core interests based on ASML's lobbying alone. The United States will also consider aligning its stance with the Netherlands on the issue of regulating ASML in order to avoid a rift in the West's strategy toward China.
ASML's sudden choice to take the initiative this time reflects its inner anxiety and uneasiness. Due to the rapid development of China's chip industry, ASML's position in the Chinese market is facing further erosion. ASML hopes to fully open up the Chinese market by fighting for the easing of restrictions, but this seems to be difficult. At present, ASML can only actively improve its technology and services, maintain its value to Chinese customers, and strive to consolidate its position in the Chinese market.
Overall, ASML is unlikely to reach a deal to ease restrictions, but its anxiety and anxiety are understandable. This reflects the significant impact of the rapid rise of China's chip industry on the global landscape. List of high-quality authors