The Trump administration has formally raised concerns with Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML that one of its most advanced chip-making machines may have reached China in violation of US-led export restrictions, putting the company on the defensive. The confrontation escalates a years-long campaign to keep cutting-edge chip technology out of Chinese hands, with the US now questioning whether its own controls are being circumvented.
The dispute centers on ASML's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines — the only tools capable of producing the world's most advanced microchips. The US has barred ASML from shipping EUV systems to China since 2019, and the company maintains that it has complied fully with all export rules. According to TechCrunch, US officials recently told ASML they suspect one of these machines may have ended up in China through an undisclosed channel.
ASML has pushed back hard, calling the allegations impossible. The company stated that it tracks every EUV system it sells and that no machine has gone missing, according to TechSpot. The US has not provided public evidence of the alleged breach, but the administration is pressing ASML for full supply-chain documentation, per Yahoo Finance.
The standoff raises the stakes for the global semiconductor industry. If the US finds proof of a violation, it could trigger new sanctions or force ASML to tighten end-user checks across its entire customer base. The company is expected to deliver a formal response to US officials within weeks.
