According to foreign sources, Howard Lutnik, United States Minister of Commerce, has recently expressed to ASML executives his concern that an EUV machine from the Dutch manufacturer may have entered China. ASML denied this claim and stated that the equipment had never existed in China.

The charges have not been made public.

By reference to informed officials, Bloomberg argued that the United States believed that ASML had delivered EUV-related components and transport equipment to China, but did not publicly present evidence or indicate whether a complete EUV system existed in China. Reports indicate that such equipment has been prohibited from being exported to China since Trump ' s first term of office.

If true, it would be considered a major loophole in recent years in the United States export restrictions on the Chinese advanced chip. The reason for this is that the EUV carving machine is currently the key equipment needed to make the most advanced chips, and only ASML is available globally.

ASML emphasizes that equipment can be traced

According to the article, the chief executive officer of ASML, Christopher Fouquet, interviewed prior to the incident, stated that the company could track the whereabouts of each of the delivered equipment. The equipment is either still being operated by the client or has been dismantled and recovered.

He also indicated that ASML had put in place technical segregation measures in the interior many years ago. Staff who have access to EUV technology, documentation and training are managed separately from staff who are not authorized, and the Chinese team is not within reach. According to him, the Chinese side did not have access to the complete EUV equipment, and therefore there was no basis for copying the entire machine.

Controversy engages the AI chip supply chain

According to the article, the controversy was brought to the fore not only because of an allegation of export control but also because ASML was at the heart of the global AI chip supply chain. The advanced processor for the production of power from the station relies on ASML equipment, and the high-end chips of companies like Ingweida and Apple are linked to this chain.

Reports also mention that ASML still sells to China an earlier generation of DUV optical carving equipment. The company expects that about 20 per cent of the revenue in 2026 will come from licensed Chinese operations. If more severe restrictions are triggered by a single violation, the impact is not only on this part of the revenue, but also on its position in the global market for semiconductor equipment.

The U.S. Congress is pushing for stricter restrictions.

The article also mentions that a cross-party bill in the United States Congress is promoting the extension of restrictions, not only to EUV, but also to the substantive prohibition of ASML exports of DUV equipment to China. The bill was passed through a key committee in April and the Trump Government has yet to make a formal statement.

In addition, at the end of last year, the United States Department of Commerce agreed to provide up to $150 million in support to XLight. It was seen as a long-term option that could challenge the technical advantages of ASML. Meanwhile, another start-up company supported by Peter Tyre, Substrate, is also developing alternatives to the EUV competition.

The article argues that this allegation remains to be further verified pending the disclosure of evidence by the United States. But games around ASML, export restrictions on China and advanced chip manufacturing capabilities have become sensitive issues in the AI industrial chain.