As tensions continue to escalate between the nations over cutting-edge technology, a Friday report said Japan and the Netherlands are expected to join the US in imposing strict export controls on key semiconductor manufacturing facilities destined for China.

According to Bloomberg, the trilateral talks should be completed as early as today (Friday). report.

What happened: The Netherlands, home of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of devices for chip production, ASML Holding NV ASML, would extend restrictions to prevent the sale of machinery essential to making certain types of advanced chips. Japan would also set similar limits Nikon Corp NINOF.

This move followed the Biden administration’s announcement late last year impose a ban on the export of advanced US semiconductor technology to China.

The government called this a national security measure and said that holding back advanced semiconductors from China would hamper the development of Chinese weapons and surveillance technology.

However ASML Holding CEO Peter Wennink had a different perspective. He explained in a last job interview that these export control measures could ultimately lead China to successfully develop its own advanced chip-making machine technology.

“The laws of physics in China are the same as here. The more you pressure them, the more likely they are to redouble their efforts,” he said.

Why it matters: Since the technology in question was used not only for Chinese weapons systems but also for other goods, including electric vehicles, where China is well ahead of the US, it remained to be seen how these controls will affect the global technology landscape.

China does Filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization about US efforts to cut off its access to semiconductor technologies, arguing that these restrictions do not conflict with several provisions of the WTO’s General Agreement on…