THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (AP) – Dutch companies that produce machines that make advanced semiconductor processor chips will be required to have export licences before they can sell them overseas starting in September, the government announced.
The new measure, which was first announced in March, “is country neutral,” the government said. The requirement will notably affect Dutch company ASML, the world’s only producer of machines that use extreme ultraviolet lithography to make advanced semiconductor chips.
“We have taken this step in the interest of our national security. It is good that the companies concerned now know where they stand. This way they can adapt to the new regulations in time,” Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said in a statement.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited US President Joe Biden in January for talks that included discussions about ASML’s advanced chip machines.
ASML is headquartered in the southern Dutch town of Veldhoven.The company said in a statement that it will now have to apply for export licences for all shipments of its most advanced deep ultraviolet lithography systems.
“The Dutch government will determine whether to grant or deny the required export licences and provide further details to the company on any conditions that apply,” ASML said.
The company added that it does not expect the restrictions “to have a material impact on our financial outlook”.
Schreinemacher said the restrictions were carefully considered and as precise as possible.
“This way we can address the most important vulnerabilities without unnecessarily disrupting the global production of chips,” she said.
