US calls for Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Japan to tighten chip curbs on China, drawing resistance from allies

The US wants to plug holes in its export controls, such as the ability of Japanese and Dutch engineers to continue doing some equipment repairs in China

Tokyo and The Hague have responded coolly to Washington’s latest push, arguing that they want to first assess the impact of current curbs, sources say

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The Biden administration is pressing several US allies to tighten curbs on China’s access to chip technology. Photo: AP

Published: 10:40am, 7 Mar 2024Updated: 3:36pm, 7 Mar 2024

The US government is pressing allies including the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea and Japan to further tighten restrictions on China’s access to semiconductor technology, a controversial effort that is drawing resistance in some countries, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Biden administration’s latest push is aimed at plugging holes in export controls it has levied over the past two years and restraining China’s progress in developing domestic chip capabilities, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

For example, the US is urging the Netherlands to stop ASML Holding from servicing and repairing sensitive chip-making equipment that Chinese clients bought before limits on sales of those devices were put into place this year, said the people.

The US also wants Japanese companies to limit exports to China of specialised chemicals critical for manufacturing chips, including photoresist, they said. Japan is home to several leaders in photoresist, including JSR and Shin-Etsu Chemical.

Tokyo and The Hague have responded coolly to Washington’s latest push, arguing that they want to assess the impact of their current curbs before considering tighter measures, some of the people said. US Commerce Department officials raised the issue in Tokyo during a meeting on export controls last month, according to one of the people.