The Dutch government has stepped in to take control of semiconductor firm Nexperia, citing “highly exceptional” risks to European economic security stemming from the company’s Chinese ownership and governance gaps. Nexperia, based in Nijmegen in the Netherlands, is owned by China’s Wingtech Technology.
Using the rarely invoked Goods Availability Act, the Netherlands intervened on September 30, asserting that Nexperia’s ownership structure threatened the continuity of critical chip-making capabilities on European soil. Officials warned that losing access to these technologies could endanger economic sovereignty during emergencies. The government said it retains authority to block or reverse company decisions deemed harmful to national or corporate interests.
The intervention does not halt Nexperia’s operations; regular production is allowed to continue. However, in practice, major corporate decisions will fall under ministerial oversight. Wingtech decried the move as politicized and unjustified. Its shares dropped 10% in Shanghai after the announcement. Wingtech stated it would seek legal avenues and protect shareholder interests, while decrying the intervention as a “geopolitical bias” rather than a fact-based assessment.
The takeover underscores broader tensions between China and Western governments over control of advanced technologies. Last year, the U.S. Commerce Department added Wingtech to its export control list, citing national security concerns. The U.K. also blocked Nexperia’s attempt to buy Newport Wafer Fab in Wales over similar fears.
China’s foreign ministry condemned the Dutch action, accusing the Netherlands of abusing national security justifications to target companies from specific countries. The European Union has pledged to collaborate closely with the Netherlands to safeguard vital technological supply chains across Europe.
