ASML Photo: VCG

Cutting-edge lithography machines provider ASML on Wednesday announced a nearly 20 percent quarter-to-quarter net sales slide in its first-quarter fiscal report, as the executive of the Dutch company said that the US tariffs could bring additional charges on shipments of its products. 

Roger Dassen, CFO of ASML, said in a statement that the potential impact brought by the US tariffs has four categories - tariffs imposed on entire systems shipments to the US, tariffs imposed on parts and tools used for field operations in the US, tariffs imposed on imports into the US for local manufacturing, and any other country imposing tariffs on things that are shipped from the US into these countries if applicable. 

Dassen also warned that tariffs could have an impact on global GDP as well as total market demand. 

ASML reported 7.7 billion euros ($8.75 billion) in total net sales and 2.4 billion euros in net income, according to its first-quarter report released on Wednesday. The company's quarterly net bookings in the period hit 3.9 billion euros, and 1.2 billion euros were for its EUV lithography machines. 

Speaking of the dynamics around tariffs playing a role in the markets, ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet noted that a new dynamic has emerged in the market, which is being shared by many experts and businesses, and is creating a new uncertainty. 

"There's this new uncertainty around tariffs. And like many experts, many businesses are explaining this is, of course, something that we don't know how to quantify yet. But this is adding definitely uncertainty in the long term," he said. 

The US government's ever-changing tariff policy had disrupted the semiconductor and related industries. The US administration reportedly granted exemptions from "reciprocal tariffs" for computers, smartphones, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and integrated circuits, many of which are imported from China, Reuters reported on Sunday.

However, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday that the exemptions were only a temporary reprieve, and those items would be subject to "semiconductor tariffs" that will likely come in "a month or two," ABC News reported.

Besides, the US administration is proceeding with probes into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors as part of a bid to impose tariffs on both sectors on the grounds that extensive reliance on foreign production of medicine and chips is a national security threat, Reuters reported on Monday, referencing US Federal Register filings.

Responding to the shifting tariff policies, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday that facts have shown and will continue to show that there are no winners in a trade war and protectionism will lead nowhere.

"The tariff tsunami hurts the US itself as well as other countries. We urge the US to quit maximum pressure and resolve issues through dialogue on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," Lin said.

Global Times