According to a June 18 report by Bloomberg, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has reportedly questioned whether one of ASML’s highly restricted extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines may have ended up in China, raising the issue directly with executives at the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant.
Senior Trump administration officials told Bloomberg they have evidence of EUV-related components and specialized transport equipment being shipped to China, prompting Lutnick’s concerns.
The issue centers on a potential breach of longstanding U.S.-led export controls designed to prevent Beijing from gaining access to the world’s most advanced chipmaking technology. ASML is the sole manufacturer of EUV systems, which are essential for producing cutting-edge semiconductors used in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and other advanced applications.
The company has firmly rejected the claims, insisting it has never supplied any EUV systems, or the specialized components needed for them, to the Chinese market.
The U.S. has banned exports of EUV tools to China for years over national security concerns. Without access to these machines, China has struggled to mass-produce the world’s most advanced semiconductors, forcing it to rely on less capable domestic alternatives and older imported equipment while falling further behind on AI development, high-performance computing, and next-generation technologies.
ASML’s Strong Rebuttal
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The company has pushed back on the suggestion that it allowed the technology to enter China, noting that EUV machines are enormous, roughly the size of a school bus and weighing about 180 metric tons, making unauthorized transport extremely difficult. The systems also require ongoing maintenance and support from ASML technicians.
A company spokesperson told Bloomberg, “ASML has never shipped an EUV machine to China, nor have we shipped to China any component, module, or equipment specifically designed for use in an EUV machine.”
This latest friction comes amid escalating U.S. efforts to restrict advanced chipmaking technology flows to China.
In April 2026, American lawmakers proposed the MATCH Act, which would further tighten controls by banning certain deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion systems and related servicing in China. While EUV exports are already blocked, limited DUV shipments have continued under existing rules, Techzine reports.
ASML has noted that it has already absorbed significant financial impacts from prior restrictions, with China’s share of its sales declining notably in early 2026. The company says it maintains full compliance with all applicable international regulations and export licenses.
