U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Block China’s Access to Advanced Chipmaking Equipment
In Focus
- Lawmakers have proposed the MATCH Act to restrict equipment export to China
- The law will affect leading Chinese chipmakers and equipment suppliers
- Restrictions target chipmaking technologies that China must import
The U.S. is targeting China’s chipmaking industry with new legislation. American lawmakers are proposing new export restrictions that might further limit China’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment. A Reuters report showed that the latest move could have a far-reaching impact on top chipmakers in China as well as major equipment suppliers like ASML.
New Law to Protect U.S. AI Leadership
The draft legislation, which is known as the MATCH Act, seeks to tighten US chip export restrictions to China. It is designed to protect America’s leadership in the AI industry by keeping China from accessing chip making that cannot be made internally.
The new piece of legislation also proposes that companies based in the U.S.-allied countries be subjected to similar restrictions as their American counterparts. Announced on April 2, 2026, the new legislation will likely escalate tech rivalry between Beijing and Washington.
There are regulations that currently prevent ASML from exporting its most advanced equipment to China. The regulations are enforced by the Dutch government in coordination with the U.S. However, ASML sells older equipment to chipmakers in China. The company also sells the machines to Taiwanese and South Korean firms operating in China. The MATCH Act seeks to stop such sales.
This is not the first time that the U.S. has considered legislative action to keep China from accessing advanced AI technologies. In 2025, a U.S. lawmaker announced plans to introduce a chip smuggling bill to facilitate verification of location of AI semiconductors once they are sold. The idea of tracking US-manufactured chips attracted bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress.
The Law Targets Chip Production Technologies
The new law proposes additional measures for restricting exportation of chipmaking tools and related services to China. It targets critical technologies that are used in production of next generation chips.
U.S. lawmakers argue that they are targeting technologies like immersion DUV lithography that China must import. This technology is required to develop chip circuitry. The global DUV lithography market is dominated by Dutch chip equipment maker, ASML.
The company competes with smaller players like Japan’s Nikon. If enacted, the new law could bar companies from selling or maintaining such equipment in top Chinese chipmakers, including Huawei, SMIC, Hua Hong, CXMT and YMTC.
The U.S. restricts semiconductor tools in China weeks after ASML sold its one of the world’s few High‑NA EUV machines to Imec at a cost of $400 million. The EUV machine will support development of sub‑2 nanometer chips in Europe.
Congress Leads Chip Control Efforts
The U.S. has already introduced multiple export restrictions to limit China’s chipmaking abilities. However, those controls were led by President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and not by Congress. In 2025, China was ASML’s biggest market. The country accounted for 33% of ASML’s sales.
