ASML wants more involvement from the European Commission and the 27 member states in its battle for free trade amidst the Sino-American technology war. While the US, China, and Japan call the shots, Europe may claim it’s in the Champions League of global economic security, but it’s not. ASML’s top EU diplomat in Brussels was abundantly clear in his analysis of the geopolitical and geoeconomic playing field in which the company is currently operating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At a conference<\/a> organized by the European Policy Centre<\/a>, a broad group of experts was asked to reflect on the EU\u2019s capacity to act as an economic security power. ASML\u2019s Wouter Baljon was one of them. For good reason, his company is in the midst of a Sino-American technology war. The conference was a prelude to the presentation of an EU initiative on screening outbound investments and a proposal on export controls for four crucial technologies, including microchips, which is expected on January 24. The proposals form part of a package of tools aimed at de-risking its trading ties with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ASML is in the midst of a Sino-American technology war. The company’s top EU lobbyist explains how the Veldhoven-based chips machine builder wants to navigate this era and what it expects from the European Commission.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n The main question for Baljon at the conference: is the European Commission helpful to ASML regarding economic security? And do we, as Europeans, have agency in this fight around technology? Baljon offered some sobering answers. \u201cEurope is still in the la-la land of dual-use goods, while the US is all about curtailing China’s ability to make industrial progress. A certain humbleness would suit us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy you should know<\/h2>