Dutch PM Heading To U.S. To Tackle China Export Ban

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is heading to Washington next week to tackle US demands to ban the export of cutting-edge silicon chipmaking machines to China, Andy Bounds and Henry Foy reported for the Financial Times.

Photo Insert: The Netherlands is home to ASML, which makes advanced chipmaking machines and Dutch ministers have publicly resisted US pressure so far, saying that they would pursue their own interests.

The US has been pressing the Netherlands and Japan to match its export controls of Beijing to prevent it catching up with advanced technology used in weapons systems. US officials have said that any deal needs to be concluded with Japan and the Netherlands together.

Rutte will meet President Joe Biden at the White House and discuss security issues, including export controls, and continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia according to people familiar with the matter.

The Netherlands is home to ASML, which makes advanced chipmaking machines. The Hague has banned exports of the company’s most advanced lithography machines to China since 2019 but the US wants it to go further.

Dutch ministers have publicly resisted US pressure so far, saying that they would pursue their own interests.

“The Netherlands and Europe should have their own strategy,” economy minister Micky Adriaansens told the Financial Times last month when asked about the talks. Alexander de Croo, prime minister of neighboring Belgium, home to semiconductor research facilities, this week accused the US of “bullying” behavior.

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