What did Howard Lutnick tell ASML?

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with ASML's senior leaders and said he was concerned that one of ASML's EUV machines may have reached China. EUV machines are banned from export to China under restrictions that date to the first Trump administration. Lutnick's meetings were first reported by Bloomberg. The Commerce Department did not respond to queries about whether it holds supporting evidence.

Has ASML ever shipped an EUV machine to China?

No. ASML's company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that it has never shipped an EUV machine to China. The company also pushed back on US claims about EUV-related component exports, denying those allegations as well. ASML noted that EUV machines are the size of a school bus, made in limited quantities, and require constant upkeep from its own staff.

What evidence does the US government have?

Multiple senior US officials told Bloomberg they have evidence ASML is "not acting in good faith," specifically citing exports of EUV-related gear to China. However, those officials declined multiple requests for proof, citing sensitivity of sources. They also declined to confirm whether they have seen evidence of a full EUV system inside China.

What is the MATCH Act and how does it affect ASML?

The MATCH Act, introduced April 2, 2026, by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would extend US chip export curbs to deep ultraviolet, or DUV, lithography machines. Chinese firms have so far been able to buy DUV tools from ASML. The bill targets that remaining access. ASML shares fell about 2.6% on April 7, 2026, after news of the proposed legislation.

Why are EUV machines so important to chip export policy?

EUV machines are the only tools that can produce the most advanced semiconductors at scale. Companies like TSMC use them to make chips for Nvidia and Apple. Blocking China's access to EUV is central to US policy aimed at slowing China's semiconductor progress. Without EUV, China cannot easily manufacture leading-edge chips — which is why the question of whether one reached China is so significant.

US Warns ASML: China May Have Top EUV Chip Tool

By iCharles News · June 19, 2026

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Commerce Secretary Lutnick raised concerns with ASML that an EUV machine may have reached China. ASML denies it. US officials cite evidence but won't share it publicly.

US Warns ASML: China May Have Top EUV Chip Tool

What Did the US Tell ASML?

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with ASML's senior leaders in a series of recent meetings. He told them he was concerned that one of ASML's top machines may have reached China. That would break US-led export restrictions, according to Bloomberg as reported by Moneycontrol.

The machine in question is an extreme ultraviolet lithography, or EUV, system. These tools are used by firms like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make chips for Nvidia and Apple. ASML has never been allowed to ship EUV machines to China. That ban dates to curbs imposed during the first Trump administration.

What Is an EUV Machine?

EUV machines use ultraviolet light to etch fine patterns onto silicon wafers. A few key facts about them:

Each machine is roughly the size of a school bus.
They are made in limited quantities.
They need constant upkeep from ASML staff.

ASML used those details in its pushback. The company told US officials that tools this large, this rare, and this dependent on ongoing service simply are not in China.

How Did ASML Respond?

ASML pushed back directly. The company told US officials that none of its EUV tools are in China. A company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that ASML talks with all governments and has never shipped an EUV machine to China.

ASML is now in the hard position of proving a negative. It is unclear what information would fully satisfy the US government. The Commerce Department did not respond to multiple queries — including whether it holds any evidence that an EUV machine is actually in China.

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What Evidence Does the US Claim to Have?

We are tracking a key gap in this story: the US has not shared its evidence publicly. Here is what each side says:

Claim	Who Makes It	ASML's Position
A full EUV machine reached China	US officials (concern, not confirmed)	Denied — no EUV ever shipped to China
EUV-related gear was exported to China	Senior US administration officials	Denied to Bloomberg
ASML is not acting in good faith	Multiple US officials	Disputed
Proof of shipments exists	Implied by officials	Proof not shared publicly

Multiple senior US officials told Bloomberg they have evidence ASML is "not acting in good faith." Their specific claim: ASML exported gear tied to EUV tools — not a full machine, but related components. ASML denied those claims too.

The officials declined multiple requests for proof. They cited the sensitivity of the information. They also declined to say whether they have seen evidence of an actual EUV system inside China.

What Is the MATCH Act?

Separately, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced the Multilateral Alignment of Technology Controls on Hardware (MATCH) Act on April 2, 2026. The bill targets China's access to chipmaking tools and its most critical semiconductor firms.

The MATCH Act focuses on ASML's deep ultraviolet (DUV) machines. These are less advanced than EUV tools. Chinese companies have so far been able to buy them. That would change under the proposed law.

Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., led the bill. His office said: "While the United States has imposed extensive export controls to slow China's semiconductor indigenization, U.S. allies have not fully matched these measures. This misalignment has left critical gaps that China continues to exploit."

ASML shares fell about 2.6% on April 7, 2026, after news of the proposed legislation, according to CNBC.

Why Does This Matter for the Chip Supply Chain?

ASML has faced growing limits on its China business for years. The US has pushed the Netherlands and Japan to cut off chip equipment flows to China. EUV machines sit at the center of that effort. They are essential for making the most advanced chips — the kind that power AI systems and processors from companies like Nvidia.

This dispute does not exist in isolation. Huawei's EUV workarounds show how hard China is working to build advanced chips without access to ASML tools. Meanwhile, Nvidia's China sales strategy reflects the same tension: whether export controls are actually slowing China's chip progress.

The question of where advanced chips get made is also shifting fast. Nvidia's Texas factory push and Samsung's work on advanced chip nodes are part of a broader effort to anchor leading-edge production outside China.

What Happens Next?

The Commerce Department has not responded to Bloomberg's queries. US officials have not shared their evidence. ASML continues to deny both the full-machine and component-related claims. Congress is advancing the MATCH Act, which would extend restrictions to DUV machines — a category ASML still sells into China.

The most confirmed fact: ASML says it has never shipped an EUV machine to China. The US government has not publicly produced evidence that one is there. Investing.com's Reuters report confirms the same core account.

Frequently asked questions

What did Howard Lutnick tell ASML?: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with ASML's senior leaders and said he was concerned that one of ASML's EUV machines may have reached China. EUV machines are banned from export to China under restrictions that date to the first Trump administration. Lutnick's meetings were first reported by Bloomberg. The Commerce Department did not respond to queries about whether it holds supporting evidence.
Has ASML ever shipped an EUV machine to China?: No. ASML's company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that it has never shipped an EUV machine to China. The company also pushed back on US claims about EUV-related component exports, denying those allegations as well. ASML noted that EUV machines are the size of a school bus, made in limited quantities, and require constant upkeep from its own staff.
What evidence does the US government have?: Multiple senior US officials told Bloomberg they have evidence ASML is "not acting in good faith," specifically citing exports of EUV-related gear to China. However, those officials declined multiple requests for proof, citing sensitivity of sources. They also declined to confirm whether they have seen evidence of a full EUV system inside China.
What is the MATCH Act and how does it affect ASML?: The MATCH Act, introduced April 2, 2026, by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would extend US chip export curbs to deep ultraviolet, or DUV, lithography machines. Chinese firms have so far been able to buy DUV tools from ASML. The bill targets that remaining access. ASML shares fell about 2.6% on April 7, 2026, after news of the proposed legislation.
Why are EUV machines so important to chip export policy?: EUV machines are the only tools that can produce the most advanced semiconductors at scale. Companies like TSMC use them to make chips for Nvidia and Apple. Blocking China's access to EUV is central to US policy aimed at slowing China's semiconductor progress. Without EUV, China cannot easily manufacture leading-edge chips — which is why the question of whether one reached China is so significant.

Sources

according to Bloomberg as reported by Moneycontrol moneycontrol.com
according to CNBC cnbc.com
Investing.com's Reuters report investing.com

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