IXR media coverage, page-579

https://www.gearrice.com/update/why-asml-has-become-the-boxing-dummy-in-the-us-china-conflict/

Why ASML has become the boxing dummy in the US-China conflict

By William Jebor 03/01/2024

Why is there so much talk about ASML?

Section below.....

**China has already shown that it does not hesitate when it comes to responding to Western vetoes. For example, The Asian country controls most of the processing of rare earths. This is used to create many electronic components, but especially magnets and parts that are inside the batteries of electric cars.

With China placing obstacles on these materials, access to them will be more expensive, and there may be three scenarios: that the electric car production chain is not supplied, slowing down vehicle deliveries to customers. That their price is higher because the raw material has risen. Or both situations at the same time.

In fact, Europe is already concerned about China's control of both rare earths and elements such as gallium or germanium, which, again, are crucial for the electronics industry.

Therefore, all this is not just about the United States against China and Huawei in between, but it affects a growing industry – that of electric vehicles – and many other branches of the technology industry worldwide. And when that happens, in the end, the person affected is always the consumer… and his pocket.

And, obviously, these restrictions are also affecting an ASML that may see its profits plummet if China, one of the most important countries in the world, can not buy the latest generation machinery. What is clear is that the conflict is far from over, and the situation is increasingly tense**