Tensions around Nexperia seem to be gradually easing. Now that the US and China have reached an agreement, the door is open for new chip deliveries from China. Whether and for how long Nexperia will remain under Dutch control is still unclear.
The Dutch government expects Nexperia to resume chip deliveries from its Chinese facilities within a few days. Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs) says that China is making this possible following a recent trade and economic agreement with the United States. The Netherlands is monitoring the situation and coordinating with the European Commission and international partners.
The commitment means that customers will once again have access to so-called legacy chips. These components are important for the European automotive industry and consumer electronics, among others. According to the ministry, the Chinese step aligns with information shared with the European Commission.
Goods Availability Act
The development follows interventions by the Dutch government at Nexperia. On September 30, 2025, the minister invoked the Goods Availability Act and
In practice, other interests were at play. The action was at least partly inspired by pressure from the US. The American government had warned the Netherlands that Nexperia, under the Chinese rule of Wingtech, would become subject to sanctions imposed on that company.
Court Ruling
Parallel to the government measure, an inquiry procedure is underway at the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. Nexperia itself requested this through multiple directors. The Enterprise Chamber suspended one statutory director (the CEO) for the duration of the procedure.
The judge appointed a temporary non-executive director with decisive authority and transferred all shares, except one, to a court-appointed administrator. According to the Netherlands, this underscored the judge’s doubt about sound governance and business operations, justifying the invocation of the Goods Availability Act.
Unavailable Goods
The takeover of the management plan did not achieve the intended result. The Chinese division of Nexperia, responsible for a significant part of production, declared its independence and stated it was not bound by decisions of the Dutch headquarters.
The Chinese government also got involved in the matter, promptly installing an export ban for all Chinese branches of Nexperia. This export ban has consequences: among others, the automotive sector in the EU relies on chips from Nexperia. Today, the Goods Availability Act has ironically led to the unavailability of goods.
The Netherlands says it has been consulting with Chinese authorities from the start to find a workable solution. This included ensuring stability at Nexperia Holding and seeking clarity on the American Affiliates Rule.
Resumed Export, but What about Control?
With the announced agreement between China and the United States, the Netherlands expects the export of chips from China to resume. What will happen with the control over Nexperia is unclear.
The entire issue has taken on large proportions. It seems that diplomatic issues are mainly driving the story. The EU and the Netherlands do not come out as winners. China has shown that it also has teeth and is willing to react strongly when its economic interests are threatened. In the end, Europe is too dependent on what Nexperia produces in China to really make a stand.
Automotive Industry in Distress
The European automotive industry fears an acute shortage. “As long as there are restrictions on the export of wafers to China, we will not have enough chips to meet global demand,” says Acea, the umbrella organization for European car manufacturers, to
European car manufacturers are therefore watching the situation with bated breath and hope that the Dutch and Chinese branches of Nexperia will soon reach a definitive peace agreement. “What is happening now is simply inexplicable and it is devastating for hundreds of industries,” states another anonymous testimony from the industry to the Financial Times.
This article originally appeared on November 10 and was updated with the latest information.