The American government is apparently pushing the Netherlands to ban the important semiconductor company ASML from selling technology to China that is essential for a large part of global chip production.
As can be heard, the focus is on some systems from the field of "Deep Ultraviolet Lithography", which are most common in the production of chips for cars, cell phones, computers and robots.
This is reported by the financial service Bloomberg and refers to people familiar with the matter.
The issue came up during US Assistant Secretary of Commerce Don Graves' visit to the Netherlands and Belgium in late May and early June, when the countries' governments discussed supply chain issues.
During the trip, Graves also visited ASML's headquarters in Veldhoven and met CEO Peter Wennink.
The restriction proposed by Washington would extend an existing moratorium on sales of the most advanced production systems to China.
The People's Republic has set itself the goal of achieving a leading position in chip production and being able to meet its own needs.
The Dutch government has not yet agreed to additional export restrictions for ASML in relation to Chinese chip manufacturers, informed people report.
China's efforts would be further complicated by a ban on DUV technology, since most devices with the more advanced EUV technology are already subject to corresponding export bans to China.
The US Department of Commerce and the Dutch State Department declined to comment.
An ASML spokeswoman stressed that the debate was not new.
"No decisions have been made yet and we don't want to speculate or comment on rumours," she said.
ASML is the leading manufacturer of lithography systems, which are essential for a crucial step in chip production.