Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma has criticized US proposals that would force Dutch chip machine maker ASML to further restrict its exports to China. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Sjoerdsma emphasized that export controls work best through voluntary international cooperation rather than foreign imposition.
The Match Act threat to chip technology
The US Congress is currently considering a draft bill called the Match Act. The legislation aims to restrict partner countries from exporting advanced semiconductor technology to China. Furthermore, the bill would block companies from providing ongoing maintenance and servicing for machines that Chinese firms already own. If Washington fails to reach an agreement with its allies, the proposal dictates that the US must unilaterally impose these export restrictions on them.
Sjoerdsma expressed deep dissatisfaction with this approach, stating that the Netherlands rejects any unilateral measures imposed by the US. He noted that international cooperation must remain voluntary, adding that coercion threatens the core of the Dutch economy and its earning capacity.
Netherlands defends targeted restrictions
The minister stated that the Netherlands prefers targeted and proportionate export restrictions to avoid disrupting global supply chains. The Dutch government intends to review high-tech chip exports on a case-by-case basis. Sjoerdsma noted that the American bill wrongly implies that the two nations do not share the same security goals.
Despite the policy friction, Sjoerdsma described his recent meetings with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as productive and constructive. The minister expects to make several follow-up visits to Washington to address Dutch economic concerns. Prime Minister Rob Jetten previously raised the same issue during his official visit to the United States in April.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
