The Netherlands’ government on Wednesday said it plans to restrict exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security, in the Dutch answer to US moves last year to restrict chip exports to China.
The move follows months of discussions between the Netherlands, the US and Japan, in which Washington has tried to get allies to adopt similar restrictions to those it introduced in October aimed at hobbling China’s ability to make semiconductors and to slow its military advances.
Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher announced the decision in a letter to parliament, saying the restrictions will be introduced before the summer.
The letter did not name China, a key Dutch trading partner, nor did it name ASML Holding NV, a major supplier to semiconductor manufacturers, but both will be affected.
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It named an important ASML technology known as “DUV” lithography, used in the manufacturing of computer chips.
