ASML

ASML, a Dutch tech giant, is a key player in the semiconductor industry, manufacturing advanced chip-making equipment. The company is currently newsworthy due to several factors. Firstly, top Chinese semiconductor executives are urging a national effort to create a domestic alternative to ASML, driven by US sanctions limiting China's access to ASML's most advanced technology. Secondly, ASML itself reports strong global demand for its equipment in 2026, fueled by the AI boom, with record orders booked. However, the company anticipates declining sales to China due to these same US trade restrictions. This situation highlights ASML's central role in the global chip supply chain and the geopolitical tensions surrounding technology access and development.