TechCrunch AI reports that the US Commerce Department’s allegations against ASML hinge on unverified claims of EUV tool shipments to China, a move that would undermine years of export controls designed to limit China’s access to advanced AI hardware. While ASML maintains its innocence, the lack of publicly shared evidence raises questions about the motivations behind the accusations. This scrutiny comes as the US invests in startups like xLight, which aims to challenge ASML’s EUV dominance, suggesting potential geopolitical and economic undercurrents. The outcome could reshape global semiconductor supply chains and AI development trajectories.