AMSTERDAM: In a move signaling rising global trade and technology tensions, the Dutch government has invoked emergency powers to assume control of Nexperia, a Netherlands-based semiconductor company owned by China’s Wingtech Technology.
The decision, announced by the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, was made under the “Goods Availability Act”—a rarely used measure that allows state intervention to secure essential supplies. The ministry cited “serious governance shortcomings” at Nexperia, warning they posed risks to Dutch and European technological security.
Headquartered in Nijmegen, Nexperia is one of the world’s largest producers of standard semiconductors like diodes and transistors and is also developing next-generation “wide-gap” semiconductors used in electric vehicles, chargers, and AI data centers.
“Losing these capabilities could endanger Dutch and European economic security,” the ministry’s statement read, emphasizing the move as a safeguard for the continent’s industrial resilience—especially in the automotive sector. The intervention, described as “highly exceptional,” was executed in September to ensure supply continuity during potential crises.
While officials denied any U.S. involvement—calling the timing “purely coincidental”—the move mirrors wider Western efforts to tighten export controls and protect chip supply chains. The United States had already added Wingtech to its Entity List in December 2024, accusing it of aiding Beijing’s attempts to acquire sensitive semiconductor technology.
Tensions have been further strained by China’s recent restrictions on rare earth materials vital to Europe’s electric vehicle and renewable industries.
In a now-deleted WeChat post archived by Pekingnology, Wingtech condemned the Dutch government’s move as “excessive intervention driven by geopolitical bias,” asserting that it had complied with all European regulations since acquiring Nexperia in 2019. The company noted that Nexperia employs thousands across the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK.
A Nexperia spokesperson told CNBC the firm “remains compliant with all regulations” and is “in regular dialogue with authorities,” but declined to comment further.
The seizure follows a 2023 Dutch investigation into Nexperia’s acquisition of chip startup Nowi, which was ultimately cleared, though it deepened scrutiny over Chinese ownership in the European tech sector.
Following the takeover announcement, Wingtech’s stock tumbled 10%—its daily trading limit—on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. A corporate filing dated October 13 confirmed that Nexperia is now under temporary external management, with restrictions on asset transfers, personnel changes, and business operations for up to a year. Wingtech Chairman Zhang Xuezheng has been suspended from his roles at the company.
The unprecedented Dutch intervention underscores how semiconductors have become central to global power rivalries, as nations move to protect supply chains deemed vital to economic and national security.
