This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to Reuters.

“The Dutch government said on Wednesday it plans to impose new restrictions on semiconductor technology exports to protect national security by joining the US efforts to restrict chip exports to China,” the report said.

The announcement marks the first concrete step taken by the Dutch, who control key chip-making technologies, to adopt rules Washington has called for to rein in China’s chip industry and slow its military advances.

In October, the US imposed large-scale export restrictions on the supply of US chipmaking tools to China. But for the restrictions to be effective, they need approval from other key suppliers in the Netherlands and Japan, which produce the technology to make the chips. Allied countries have been negotiating on this issue for several months.

Dutch Minister of Internal Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesche Schreinemacher, announced the decision in a letter to parliament, saying that the restriction will be implemented until the summer.

The letter made no mention of China, a key trading partner of the Netherlands, or ASML Holding, Europe’s largest technology firm and a key supplier to semiconductor manufacturers. He states that one of the technologies in question is DUV lithography systems, the second most advanced machine ASML has sold to computer chip manufacturers.

“As the Netherlands considers it necessary to contain this technology as soon as possible for reasons of national security, the Council of Ministers will issue a national checklist,” the letter said.

According to the news of Ukrinform, microchips produced by Dutch companies reach the Russian Federation despite the sanctions, and export is realized through intermediaries.

According to journalists, several hundred deliveries were made to three Russian companies related to defense enterprises. “Dutch” microchips were also found on Russian weapons.

Investigators noted there was a plan for a small group of Chinese companies to take Dutch chips and export them to Russia. Such a company is on the US sanctions list for supplying the Russian defense complex.