MATCH Act Targets ASML and Chinese Chipmakers in New U.S. Export Crackdown

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has unveiled the MATCH Act, a landmark piece of draft legislation designed to tighten export restrictions on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment destined for China. The proposal takes direct aim at protecting America's artificial intelligence dominance by closing loopholes that have allowed Chinese chipmakers to acquire critical foreign-made tools they cannot produce domestically.

Unlike previous rounds of chip export controls driven by the executive branch under Presidents Biden and Trump, this initiative originates from Congress itself, signaling a broader political consensus around technology competition with China. The legislation targets specific chipmaking technologies where Chinese manufacturers remain heavily import-dependent, most notably immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography systems — a market largely controlled by Dutch semiconductor giant ASML, alongside Japanese competitor Nikon.

Under current Dutch government regulations, coordinated with Washington, ASML is already barred from exporting its most cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines to China. However, the company has continued selling older DUV equipment to Chinese clients. The MATCH Act would eliminate that exemption entirely, while also extending equivalent restrictions to allied nations' companies — ensuring a level playing field for all U.S. partners in the global chip supply chain.

The legislation explicitly names China's leading chipmakers — SMIC, Hua Hong, Huawei, CXMT, and YMTC — prohibiting both the sale and servicing of restricted equipment to these entities. This represents a significant escalation, as after-sales servicing has remained a grey area in prior export control frameworks.

The stakes are considerable for ASML. China represented its single largest market in 2025, contributing 33% of total revenue, though that share is projected to fall to around 20% in 2026. The Dutch foreign ministry, which oversees trade and export policy, declined to weigh in, stating it would not comment on another country's proposed legislation.