The Dutch government has made what it describes as a rare move to step in at Nexperia, a China-owned semiconductor manufacturer based in the Netherlands. Officials say they acted because of risks to national and European economic security, according to the BBC.
Following this decision, officials invoked the Goods Availability Act after observing «acute signals of serious governance shortcomings» with the company’s operations. The Act is a significant legal tool because it enables the government to intervene in extraordinary situations to protect the interests of national economic security.
The government aims to ensure that Nexperia’s chip supply remains secure during emergencies and that Europe’s technological know-how is protected. The company will continue to operate as usual. Notably, after the announcement, Wingtech’s shares fell by about 10%.
This latest move follows previous scrutiny. In 2022, U.K. authorities raised national security concerns about Nexperia’s ownership and ordered the company to sell its Newport facility. Similarly, in the U.S., Wingtech was placed on the so-called «entity list,» which bars American firms from exporting U.S.-made goods to listed companies without special approval.
