US Grills ASML Over Suspected Chinese EUV Machine Acquisition

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has directly questioned ASML leadership over suspicions that China got its hands on one of the company's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines — a potential violation of US-led export controls.

EUV machines are the crown jewels of chipmaking. ASML is the sole manufacturer on Earth, and the equipment is explicitly restricted from reaching China under multilateral export rules designed to kneecap Beijing's semiconductor ambitions.

If confirmed, a Chinese acquisition of EUV technology would represent a major breach of the export control regime and a serious embarrassment for enforcement efforts.

For ASML, the Dutch chip-equipment giant, this marks its toughest pressure test yet under the Trump administration. The company now finds itself caught between Washington's hardline stance on China and the realities of policing where its most advanced machines end up.