Chip machine manufacturer ASML remains hopeful that the United States will not impose further restrictions on exports of chip technology to China. Chief Financial Officer Roger Dassen has criticised the Match Act proposed in the US Congress.
Dassen hopes US politicians will conclude after next month’s midterm elections that the proposal is not a good idea.
Members of Congress have proposed additional restrictions on ASML’s second-most advanced chip machines. The company is already banned from exporting its most advanced machines to China. The proposal would also prevent ASML from carrying out maintenance on chip machines in China.
Dassen called the proposal “unbalanced”. He said the US is seeking restrictions on technology that is already 11 years old.
“The Match Act wants to make even that technology impossible in China. While significant quantities of 3- and 4-nanometre chips are already being imported into China today,” he said.
Financial setback
Dassen believes it is unrealistic to stop China’s technological development in this way. He estimates that the proposed restrictions would, at most, slow its progress slightly.
He also warned that the Match Act could encourage China to copy Western technology illegally at a faster pace.
“For those reasons, we think the Match Act is not a good idea. And I am always optimistic that common sense will prevail in this conversation,” Dassen said.
Financial setback
If implemented, the Match Act could also result in a major financial setback for ASML. China currently accounts for about one-fifth of the company’s revenue.
However, Dassen has previously said that ASML could probably offset any loss of sales in China with additional orders from customers elsewhere.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
