(Image source: Wingtech Technology and Nexperia at the 2022 China International Import Expo)
The Dutch government has assumed temporary control over Nexperia, a Chinese-owned semiconductor manufacturer, in an extraordinary intervention aimed at safeguarding the supply of critical chips in Europe amid mounting global trade tensions.
Nexperia, a subsidiary of China’s Wingtech Technology, is a high-volume producer of semiconductors used in automotive, consumer electronics, and other strategic industries. Its products are considered essential for maintaining technological supply chains in the Netherlands and across Europe.
On Sunday evening, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs confirmed that the government had invoked the Goods Availability Act in September, a law designed to ensure that crucial goods remain available during emergencies. According to the ministry, the measure was necessary “to prevent a situation in which the goods produced by Nexperia—finished and semi-finished products—would become unavailable in an emergency.”
Following the announcement, Wingtech Technology’s shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange fell sharply, hitting the daily maximum decline of 10%.
The Goods Availability Act permits the Dutch government to intervene in private companies to maintain the availability of critical products. Its use in Nexperia’s case reflects heightened geopolitical tensions, including ongoing U.S.-China trade frictions. The Dutch ministry described the intervention as “highly exceptional”, citing “recent and acute signals of serious governance shortcomings and actions” within Nexperia.
“These signals posed a threat to the continuity and safeguarding of crucial technological knowledge and capabilities on Dutch and European soil. Losing these capabilities could endanger Dutch and European economic security,” the ministry statement said. The automotive industry, heavily dependent on Nexperia’s chips, was highlighted as particularly vulnerable.
A corporate filing by Wingtech submitted to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Monday confirmed that Nexperia was placed under temporary external management. The company has been instructed to suspend changes to its assets, business operations, or personnel for up to one year.
Wingtech Chairman Zhang Xuezheng was immediately suspended from his roles as Executive Director of Nexperia Semiconductor Holdings and Non-Executive Director of Nexperia. According to the filing, Nexperia’s daily operations are continuing, but the impact of these measures remains uncertain and unquantified.
Wingtech criticized the Dutch government’s action, asserting that it represents “excessive intervention driven by geopolitical bias rather than a fact-based risk assessment.” A post on the company’s official WeChat account, later deleted but archived by Chinese policy blog Pekingnology, emphasized that since acquiring Nexperia in 2019, Wingtech has strictly complied with local laws and regulations, maintained transparent operations, and provided employment for thousands of local staff across its R&D and manufacturing sites in the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.K.
A company spokesperson said that Nexperia had no further comment beyond stating that it complies with all relevant laws, export controls, and sanctions regimes and is maintaining regular communication with relevant authorities.
The Dutch intervention follows China’s recent tightening of export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets, actions that could further affect Europe’s automotive sector. The move also risks exacerbating trade tensions between China and the Netherlands, building on years of friction over semiconductor technology. Notably, Dutch authorities previously restricted ASML from exporting advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China.
Nexperia’s path has already been marked by scrutiny from European regulators. In 2023, Dutch authorities reviewed its proposed acquisition of the semiconductor startup Nowi before ultimately approving the deal. Wingtech acquired Nexperia in 2019, a strategic move that brought a European semiconductor leader under Chinese ownership, giving Wingtech control over critical manufacturing capabilities in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.
The intervention highlights the delicate balance between national security concerns, international trade obligations, and corporate governance in a globalized semiconductor industry. Analysts suggest that the Dutch government’s use of emergency powers could set a precedent for future interventions in foreign-owned technology companies operating on European soil.
Wingtech, meanwhile, has pledged to explore legal and diplomatic channels to protect its rights and maintain operational stability. Nexperia continues production at its European sites, with the company emphasizing that its operations are compliant with all local laws and export controls.
As geopolitical tensions continue to shape the semiconductor landscape, the Nexperia case underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by Chinese-owned technology firms operating in Europe, particularly those involved in high-tech sectors critical to national and continental infrastructure.
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