Japan, Netherlands, and US Unite to Restrict Exports of Chip-Manufacturing Equipment to China

Japan and the Netherlands have joined the United States in an effort to restrict exports of advanced chip-manufacturing equipment to China, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The agreement, reached in a meeting between top national security officials from the three countries, is a response to the Biden administration's efforts to curb China's military development by reducing its access to advanced technologies.

The move comes after the US decided in October to put a lot of restrictions on exporting high-tech chips and equipment made by US companies.

Dutch and Japanese Governments Support China Chip Ban

The Netherlands will prevent ASML Holding from selling specific immersion lithography machines to China, while Japan will set similar limits on Nikon.

The agreement has the support of both the Japanese and Dutch governments, which is crucial for the success of the US's export-control policy. President Biden held a meeting with the leaders of both countries to discuss the measures.

PCMAG reports that the negotiations were led by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and included representatives from both Japan and the Netherlands, such as Takeo Akiba, Alan Estevez, and Tarun Chhabra.

Despite the agreement, it could take some time for the restrictions to be implemented. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with President Biden recently to discuss the export limits.

ASML and Nikon

ASML and Nikon are major semiconductor equipment manufacturers based in the Netherlands and Japan, respectively.

Japan's Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, stated that the country is discussing additional export controls with the United States. However, the countries' reliance on Chinese business makes them wary of enacting policies that may stifle their markets.

The agreement to restrict exports of advanced chip-manufacturing equipment is a significant development in China's and the West's technology race.

WSJ tells us that it also demonstrates the growing cooperation between the United States and its allies in countering China's technological advances. The restrictions are expected to slow China's military development and limit its access to advanced technologies, which is of great concern to the United States and its allies.

EU on the US-China Chip War

The European Union, Japan, and South Korea are working more closely with the US to counter China's contentious technological progress. China does a lot of business with these countries, so the partnership is essential for the US's export-control policy to work.

On January 27, the European Union issued a statement in response to the US effort to halt the export of semiconductor-making supplies to China, stating that they, along with the US, could not allow China access to the most advanced technologies.

Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner, stated at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that the US fully supports the EU's plan to choke off China's semiconductor industry.

"We fully agree with the objective of depriving China of the most advanced chips. You will always find Europe by your side when it comes to ensuring our common security in technology, " Breton stated.

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