STORY: The U.S. is pushing Japan and the Netherlands to help it crack down on China's ability to make cutting-edge chips.

That's according to a Reuters source.

U.S. export policy chief Alan Estevez is reportedly headed for Japan, where he'll press policymakers to tighten export controls.

The country is home to key chip equipment makers such as Nikon and Tokyo Electron.

Japan's government has already curbed shipments of 23 types of equipment, including machines that can etch microscopic circuits.

It's believed Estevez also met with the Dutch government to seek its help.

The Netherlands is the base for ASML - the world's largest maker of chip equipment.

It's already the subject of export controls.

Now Washington wants the firm to stop servicing some of its gear in China, but has reportedly been rebuffed by the Dutch government, which says it doesn't have the legal power to enforce such a move.

The U.S. first imposed sweeping restrictions on some chips and related equipment in 2022.

It wants to slow China's efforts to modernize its military.

A year later, it reached agreement with Japan and the Netherlands on cooperation over those restrictions.