Key Points
- The Dutch government has returned control of the chipmaker Nexperia to its Chinese owner, Wingtech.
- This move aims to resolve a dispute that has disrupted global automotive chip supply.
- The Netherlands had seized the company in September under pressure from the U.S. In response, China had halted exports of Nexperia’s chips.
- A recent meeting between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped to de-escalate the situation.
The Dutch government has returned control of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia to its Chinese owner, Wingtech Technology. This move is a major step toward resolving a dispute that had blocked the supply of vital chips to the global auto industry.
Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans said on Wednesday that the decision was made after consulting with European and international partners and following recent meetings with Chinese authorities. “We see this as a show of goodwill,” Karremans said. “We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Chinese authorities in the period ahead.”
The decision reverses the Dutch government’s seizure of Nexperia back in late September. That action was taken under pressure from U.S. authorities, who had warned the Dutch government that the chipmaker would be blacklisted unless its Chinese ownership was removed. In response, Beijing had halted exports of Nexperia chips, sparking fears of a damaging shortage in the auto industry.
A recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped calm the dispute, and Nexperia chips began leaving China again earlier this month.
“We are positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world,” Karremans said.
The Dutch government had previously said it seized the company because of evidence that Nexperia’s CEO was moving production, financial resources, and intellectual property to China. Separately, a Dutch court had suspended Nexperia’s CEO and placed most of the company’s shares under the control of an external manager. The government’s decision to hand back control does not affect that court ruling.
Nexperia said it welcomes the recent dialogue between the Dutch and Chinese authorities to restore supply chain stability.
