The US government has informed ASML that it has indications in Washington that one of the Dutch manufacturer's most advanced lithography systems has been transferred to China. This is reported by Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources. If the accusation made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is confirmed, it would be one of the most serious known violations of US sanctions, the financial news agency summarizes. ASML has vehemently denied the suspicion; worldwide, exactly 314 EUV systems are in operation, none of them in China. The systems could not be operated or moved without ASML's involvement. According to Bloomberg, the US government accuses ASML of maliciously deceiving them.
Further strain on US-EU relations
The device allegedly brought to China is said to be one of those lithography systems for semiconductor manufacturing that use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure. ASML is the only company worldwide that can produce these machines and has therefore become Europe's most valuable company. Due to export restrictions, ASML is not allowed to sell the ton-heavy devices to China. After Lutnick raised the accusations in April, ASML reportedly distributed a document in Washington, explaining among other things why it knows the whereabouts of every system. According to this, it can register "any interruption, any abnormal behavior, and any loss of connection." No system is located in China.
