Since the earlier passing of Biden’s CHIPS Act this year, the U.S. has been arm-twisting the leading semiconductor manufacturers to stop their sales to China, including Taiwan [sic], South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands—the top semiconductor producing locations. Undoubtedly, there is a significant resistance, as China represents one of the largest markets for such chips, with some estimates putting it at around one-third of global revenue, and not everyone is excited about cutting off their own foot.
The Netherlands had originally agreed to restrict its most advanced semiconductor technology from China (extreme ultraviolet lithography), but maintained the sales of the previous generation technology (deep ultraviolet lithography). However, they are increasingly coming under pressure from the U.S. to cut all sales to China.
On Nov. 22, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said, “It is important that we defend our own interests—our national safety, but also our economic interests.” Further she said, “the Netherlands will not copy the American measures one-to-one,” but that “we make our own assessment—and we do this in consultation with partner countries such as Japan and the U.S.”
Possibly having received some pressure in response to her statements, Schreinemacher lightened her tone in comments to reporters later in the week, but still held her ground: “Well, we are having talks with the U.S. Obviously, they have announced their unilateral measures,” Schreinemacher said. She added, “I cannot really comment on what would be acceptable for the Netherlands. Obviously, we are weighing our own interests. Our national security interest is of the utmost importance.”
