Tech Battle Escalates: ASML CEO Anticipates Intensified US Push for Greater China Semiconductor Restrictions Amidst Global Monopoly

Technology Battle: ASML's chief executive observes increasing US pressure for added restrictions on Chinese semiconductors

The company from the Netherlands holds an exclusive market on the production of lithography machines, which are crucial for the world's biggest semiconductor factories in creating sophisticated chips.

"Analyzing the global political scene, it's evident that the US will persist in urging its allies to impose more constraints," Fouquet commented during a discussion at the Bloomberg Tech Summit in London on Tuesday. "The real question is what's in the best interest of the Netherlands? What's in the best interest of Europe?"

For several years, Washington has been striving to constrain China's growth in the semiconductor industry by implementing numerous export control rounds. These have primarily focused on the sale of sophisticated artificial intelligence chips and equipment used to make these chips. Meanwhile, the Dutch government has been grappling to strike a balance between its allegiance to the US and the largest marketplace for its most significant company.

Fouquet stated that a large portion of ASML's dealings with China are centered around established technology that doesn't significantly impact national security issues.