. This is the third time over the last three years that the U.S. has cracked down some more against China's chip industry and today's new controls restrict exports to 140 companies. It's the Biden administration's last chance to strengthen efforts to keep Chinese companies from obtaining AI chips that could help China's military capabilities.
Speaking of lithography machines, Dutch firm ASML is the only company that makes the EUV Lithography machine and Hi-NA machine used to produce chips using a 5nm node and lower. ASML said today. The company already won't ship its technologically advanced lithography machines to China. The new restrictions will also impact ASML's shipments of some older Deep Ultraviolet Lithography machines to some chipmakers in China.
While DUV Lithography machines aren't typically used to make chips using nodes under 7nm, China's largest foundry, SMIC, is believed to have used multiple exposures with a DUV Lithography machinethat is reportedly used on the new Mate 70 Pro, Mate 70 Pro+, and the Mate 70 RS Ultimate Edition.