US Congress advances largest export control package against China

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced 20 new export control measures on Wednesday, including the Match Act, to restrict Chinese access to US technology and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The package, described as the 'largest significant export control mark-up in the history of Congress,' targets advanced chipmaking tools like ASML's DUV lithography machines. Republican Representative Michael Baumgartner, who proposed the Match Act, stated that China intends to dominate technologies underpinning US economy and national defense. The bill would require allies such as Japan and the Netherlands to align with US restrictions. Some provisions were rolled back before the vote, including a ban on cryogenic etching tools, but DUV machine restrictions remained. Committee Chairman Brian Mast said the bill addresses the gravest issue of limiting China's access to critical machines for advanced chips.