DUTCH minister -
We also realize that China supplies 90 percent of all critical raw materials for chip production worldwide.
Thanks for posting this article! It is very good because it reports the actual words from the very people involved here.
First of all who speaks is the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation is also responsible for export controls. So she is the one!
Here below what I find most interesting:
"
In 2019, the Netherlands already gave in to American pressure to block a Chinese order for an EUV machine, ASML's showpiece, on the basis of the Wassenaar Arrangement. But the Wassenaar Arrangement does not apply to the more common lithography machines that use deep ultraviolet light (DUV)."
Clarifying piece of information. EUV banning is not due to 25% limit of US origin components but to Wassenaar Arrangement, and for this specific reason US has not been able to ban DUV.
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It is
2 years that Holland resists the pressure!
"Minister <...> wants to confirm in conversation with
NRC that the Netherlands has been talking
intensively with the Americans about export restrictions for
two years now."
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This lady can fight:
"
US cannot simply impose such changes on us. We participate in those conversations in a
sovereign way. Because the
Americans need us too"
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It won't be tomorrow
“
When could the Netherlands take any steps? The timing depends on how the talks go. More time is needed for that.”
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China government is not standing still.
"China has so far kept a low profile about the American offensive in the trade war, but is addressing Dutch politicians about it"
"Prime Minister Mark Rutte received an invitation to visit Beijing after the G20 summit"
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Finally, she also seems to have good humor.
The US argues that the plans are not aimed at affecting the Chinese economy, but that they are purely concerned with national security. Is that also your interpretation? National security is also the most important component for the Netherlands. But
our own national security.
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The final threat!
"If, in the eyes of the US, the Netherlands intervenes too little to limit the export of advanced chip machines to China, the US will have a trump card. Through a so
-called foreign direct rule, the US can prohibit the export of American-made parts. Both ASML and ASM International machines contain some parts that are made in the US."
Now I understand from where the 9 months limit imposed by US comes from. IMO If they don't reach a deal within 9 months US threats to apply
foreign direct rule on ASML....but if they didn't do until now, it means there would be side-effects for US too. As the minister said: US needs us too.
US is really unable to negotiate without threatening, it is in their DNA. Probably it will take them some century, but they will have to evolve.
Hear me out Bro, The Dutch are playing with words, they already bend with EUVL restriction, will they bend even more? with SMEE SSA800 in mass production mode next year. I know they're a monopoly BUT having gain such distinction they definitely know how to run a business.
