‘Chip war’
Rutte’s talks in Beijing were expected to centre on whether ASML would receive Dutch government licences to continue maintaining billions of euros worth of advanced equipment it has already sold to Chinese customers that now fall under export restrictions when current licences expire, many of them by Dec. 31.
The export curbs so far have had only a modest impact on the financial performance of ASML, which dominates the global market for lithography systems – tools vital in helping to create the circuitry of computer chips.
But in the longer term, if the Netherlands is seen as an unreliable business partner, Chinese chipmakers may seek to replace its equipment with that of rivals such as Nikon and Canon.
Dutch Trade Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen, who was also in Beijing as part of Rutte’s delegation, told Dutch business daily FD on Tuesday that defending the interests of ASML was his “number one” priority.
His remarks reflect the diplomatic tightrope on which the Dutch government must walk, with ASML now a focus in the US-China “chip war”.
China was willing to expand the import of “high-quality” goods from the Netherlands, state media cited Xi as telling Rutte, without giving details.
More broadly, China was willing to continue developing an open and pragmatic cooperative partnership with the Netherlands, Xi said.
