Netherlands Steps into the US-China Semiconductor Export Control Debate
The Netherlands has taken the rare step of dispatching its trade minister to Washington to lobby against new US legislation aimed at tightening semiconductor export controls on China. This unusual move highlights a growing rift between American national security priorities and European industrial interests, centered on ASML, the Dutch company that holds a near-monopoly on advanced lithography machines critical to the global AI chip supply chain.
The Hague Takes Its Case to Capitol Hill
Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and members of Congress this week to express opposition to the MATCH Act, a bill that would prohibit Chinese chipmakers from purchasing Western semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Direct lobbying of US legislators by a sitting European trade minister is uncommon, underscoring the high stakes involved for Dutch industry. After the meetings, Sjoerdsma told the Dutch news agency ANP that “export control simply works best when countries cooperate out of conviction, rather than when policy is imposed across the border.”
Why ASML is the Pressure Point
ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, is Europe’s most valuable company and the only firm worldwide that manufactures the sophisticated lithography machines essential for producing cutting-edge AI chips. China represents a significant share of ASML’s net system sales, making it one of the company’s largest single markets.
The MATCH Act seeks to extend US-led export controls beyond the current ban on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools to include ASML’s older deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion machines. At present, Chinese customers can still purchase these legacy DUV tools—equipment first shipped roughly a decade ago—but the proposed legislation would prohibit even these sales, potentially cutting off a major revenue stream.
The Structural Conflict Beneath the Bill
This dispute exemplifies a recurring dynamic in the escalating chip war: while the security framework is designed and enforced in Washington, the economic consequences predominantly impact European and East Asian firms. US companies like Nvidia and AMD design the chips, but it is ASML, TSMC, and a select group of Japanese suppliers who build the machines and fabs that make production possible. When Washington tightens export controls, the immediate economic impact falls on companies outside the US political system, creating an asymmetry that fuels political friction.
Historically, the Netherlands has aligned its export control policies closely with Washington, joining trilateral agreements with Japan to restrict advanced semiconductor equipment exports. However, the MATCH Act tests that alignment, especially since the equipment targeted is legacy technology and the Chinese market constitutes a substantial portion of ASML’s revenue. In written responses to Dutch lawmakers last month, Sjoerdsma emphasized that “the Netherlands has communicated its objections, particularly regarding the extraterritorial aspects, to both members of Congress and the US government.”
What Happens Next
The MATCH Act has yet to face a full vote in the House or Senate and is likely to be incorporated into a broader legislative package before passage. This procedural detail offers Dutch lobbying efforts a realistic opportunity to influence the bill’s final language rather than block it entirely.
For European policymakers closely monitoring the broader contest over AI infrastructure—from rapidly valued model labs to national compute initiatives—the question of ASML’s role is fundamental. Control over lithography technology essentially determines who can manufacture frontier chips and under what conditions, making this an upstream battleground in the global semiconductor race.
