Reuters reports US pressure led the Dutch government not to renew ASML's licence to ship an EUV tool to China

ASML/Low-NA EUV (NXE)

Reuters reported that after a July 2018 White House meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, US officials pressed the Netherlands, and the Dutch government let ASML's licence to ship an EUV machine to a Chinese customer lapse. Each EUV tool cost over EUR 120 million.

• US pressure campaign followed July 2018 White House meeting presenting intelligence on potential repercussions
• Dutch government declined to renew licence; equipment remained unshipped after customer order
• US lacked direct authority (US components <25% of value) so used Wassenaar dual-use export framework indirectly