Dutch trade minister urges U.S. to reconsider MATCH Act over ASML chip equipment curbs

The Dutch government has publicly opposed a U.S. bill that would broaden restrictions on semiconductor equipment exports to China, warning of significant consequences for ASML, Europe’s most valuable company and the sole global supplier of advanced lithography machines used to manufacture AI-capable chips. Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma traveled to Washington this week to meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and members of Congress to outline concerns about the proposed MATCH Act.

The MATCH Act would extend existing U.S. controls by barring Chinese chipmakers from accessing ASML’s deep ultraviolet immersion machines, which are older-generation tools first shipped about a decade ago. These machines are currently among the most advanced equipment China can legally obtain, according to ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet, who made the remarks to TechCrunch in May. The bill would also maintain long-standing prohibitions on ASML’s most advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools reaching China.

China accounts for 19% of ASML’s net system sales, underscoring the financial exposure the Dutch company faces if the MATCH Act becomes law. The legislation, introduced in April, has not yet advanced to a full vote in either the U.S. House or Senate, and Bloomberg notes it would likely need to be incorporated into a larger legislative package to pass.

The Dutch government’s intervention highlights transatlantic tensions over semiconductor export controls, which have intensified as the U.S. seeks to limit China’s access to advanced chipmaking technology. ASML’s lithography machines are essential for producing cutting-edge AI chips, and the proposed restrictions could disrupt global supply chains and increase costs for chipmakers worldwide.