Netherlands to Control Exports of Quantum Technology Products Starting December

The Dutch government has decided to control the export of quantum technology-related products starting this December.

According to Bloomberg on the 19th (local time), Reinette Klever, Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, stated in a letter sent to the parliament the previous day that export permits will be required for eight types of quantum technology-related products, including quantum computers and quantum measurement equipment. This applies only to countries outside the European Union (EU).

Minister Klever said, "This decision is based on national security reasons," adding, "A small number of companies will be affected."

Quantum technology refers to technology that applies quantum mechanical properties observed at the atomic or electronic microscopic level to computing, communication, sensors, and more. It is a field in which big tech companies are also investing, and it is expected to be a 'game changer' that could disrupt the industrial ecosystem.

Regarding this measure, there is an interpretation that it was influenced by the U.S. government’s 'de-risking' policy, which aims to prevent China's technological development in advanced technology sectors from becoming critical to its national security. Earlier, on the 5th, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an Interim Final Rule (IFR) designating core emerging technologies such as quantum computing and advanced semiconductor manufacturing as subjects of export control.

Since 2019, the Netherlands has banned exports of ASML’s state-of-the-art extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment to China in the semiconductor sector. Since September last year, under U.S. pressure, export permits have also been required for models at or above the NXT 2000i level, which belong to the new deep ultraviolet (DUV) equipment category, and last month, the same measure was introduced for ASML’s older equipment.