Tech war: China’s semiconductor ambitions face reality check amid reports US is set to widen ban on exports of equipment to country
- US semiconductor equipment suppliers Lam Research and KLA Corp confirmed that the US has been pushing for stricter export regulations
- The new restrictions come at a time when Washington is pressing the Dutch to block ASML from exporting DUV machines to China

China’s semiconductor self-sufficiency drive could face another hurdle as the United States moves ahead to widen the scope of its equipment export ban to China, analysts say.
US semiconductor equipment suppliers Lam Research and KLA Corp confirmed that the US government has been pushing for stricter export regulations to China by covering equipment needed for manufacturing chips at 14-nanometre and below, according to a Bloomberg report. If that is confirmed officially, it would mark an escalation from the previous ban covering 10-nm and below – the most advanced end of chip-making technology.
The new restrictions come at a time when Washington is pressing the Dutch government to block ASML from exporting less advanced deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography systems to China, which ASML CEO Peter Wennink described on a recent earnings call as a “a political position which we have to wait for politicians to come up with”.
Analysts said reports of a wider equipment ban could make it harder for China to reduce its reliance on imported chips as such equipment, which the country is unlikely to be able to make in the near term, is essential for producing chips.
“It could be a big problem for China-based foundries but it remains to be seen how broadly these restrictions are applied,” said Sravan Kundojjala, a senior analyst at Strategy Analytics. “Foundries need equipment from multiple vendors, and even without the support of one vendor, things can fall apart.”