US lawmakers propose blocking DUV chip equipment exports to Chinese military-linked firms

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that would impose a blanket ban on exporting deep ultraviolet lithography and etching tools to Chinese semiconductor companies with known military ties, including Huawei and SMIC. The proposal targets the equipment essential for producing advanced chips, extending existing restrictions on more cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet technology. The measure reflects growing Congressional concern that current export controls leave gaps allowing Chinese firms to advance their domestic chipmaking capabilities. If enacted, the ban would represent a significant expansion of U.S. technology restrictions on China's semiconductor industry, potentially affecting major equipment suppliers like ASML and Tokyo Electron. The legislation comes as the Biden administration has intensified efforts to slow China's progress in advanced computing and artificial intelligence.