The trade and technological war waged by the United States against China has increasingly strong implications in Germany. In the very strategic segment of electronic chips, a sector in which Beijing wants to increase its capacities, Washington is putting pressure on its allies, such as Japan and South Korea, to limit or prohibit China’s access to certain technologies. sensitive.
In Europe, this is the case of the Dutch group ASML, world leader in so-called “extreme ultraviolet” lithography technology, which makes it possible to produce the smallest and most powerful electronic chips on the market. At the beginning of January, a delivery of machines was blocked by the Dutch government, which could also accept the American request to limit China’s access to ASML repair services, made at the beginning of April.
However, ASML owes its innovation to long-term cooperation with two famous German family companies not listed on the stock exchange, Trumpf and Zeiss, located in Baden-Württemberg. The Trumpf group supplies the lasers, Zeiss, the optical systems. This explains why Washington is also putting pressure on Berlin to join the club of countries that restrict exports to China in this area.
“Very firm position”
Asked by The world, Trumpf and Zeiss did not comment. Sources close to the matter, however, confirm that pressure from Washington on German specialists in the sector has intensified. “It is even stronger than what was practiced during the Trump era”explains one of these sources.
“I think this will be an important point of discussion between Xi Jinping and Olaf Scholz during the chancellor’s visit to Beijing on Tuesday April 16. estimates Noah Barkin, analyst at the American research center Rhodium Group. Xi does not want to see Germany give in to pressure from Washington, and he is worried about seeing this club of countries participating in the restrictions grow. I think Berlin will be very reluctant to participate, but has not yet made a decision, this will be the start of a discussion. »
For the German companies involved, which export and operate production sites in both China and the United States, the geopolitical pressure is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. “Regardless of Donald Trump or Joe Biden, the United States is waging a high-tech war against Beijing and wants to drag Europe into this very firm position, explain Rolf J. Langhammer, trade expert at the Institute for the World Economy in Kiel. This could lead to an intensification of the trade conflict with China. For the German export model, this is a major upheaval. »