While the US imposed export restrictions on its own chip manufacturing equipment companies back in October, companies like ASML, among others, had been restricted from selling their most advanced EUV machines to Chinese customers since 2019.
"It is our understanding that steps have been made towards an agreement between governments which, to our understanding, will be focused on advanced chip manufacturing technology, including but not limited to advanced lithography tools," a spokesperson for ASML said.
China is the world's biggest consumer of computer chips and tightening exports rules has forced local chipmakers to invest in capacity, albeit to make slightly less sophisticated chips i.e., 20 nm chips and larger.
For companies like ASML additional restrictions are unlikely to have a severe impact – currently most of its sales to China are comprised of older DUV machines, worth over $2.35bn last year.
However, whatever the agreement reached, there are concerns that blocking sales of semiconductor equipment could have an impact on the wider supply chain and that it could reignite a global chip shortage, while giving the appearance that the US is solely looking to protect its own chipmaking industry.
