China imposes export ban after Dutch intervention at chipmaker Nexperia
China has imposed an export ban on Nexperia after the Dutch government intervened at the Nijmegen-based chipmaker, removing its CEO and restricting company decisions, escalating tensions between The Hague and Beijing over technology security.
Nexperia said its Chinese subsidiary and subcontractors have been barred from exporting certain finished components and semi-finished products since October 4. The company said it is in talks with Chinese authorities to lift the restrictions. Nexperia operates a major factory in Dongguan capable of producing more than 50 billion chips annually.
“Nexperia is actively engaging with the Chinese authorities to obtain an exemption from these restrictions and has deployed all available resources to that end,” the company said. “We are in close dialogue with all relevant national and local government authorities to mitigate the impact of this measure.”
The export ban followed the Dutch government’s use of the Wet beschikbaarheid goederen (Goods Availability Act), a rarely invoked emergency law that allows state intervention to secure vital goods in crises. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said it acted after identifying “acute signals of serious governance shortcomings and actions” at Nexperia, noting that European operations were “being compromised in an unacceptable manner.”
The one-year order bars the company from “relocating company parts, firing existing executives and/or making other decisions without explicit permission from the Dutch government.” Nexperia said the measure is intended “to prevent the goods manufactured by Nexperia from becoming unavailable, thus protecting Dutch and European economic security,” and added that it remains confident day-to-day operations can continue.
As part of the intervention, the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal suspended CEO Zhang Xuezheng, who also heads parent company Wingtech Technology, citing “valid reasons to doubt sound management.” The court placed Nexperia’s voting rights under an independent administrator and appointed former NXP Netherlands director Guido Dierick as non-executive board member. CFO Stefan Tilger has been named interim CEO, alongside COO Achim Kempe and CLO Ruben Lichtenberg.
Beijing condemned the Dutch actions. The state-run Global Times, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, called them “extraordinarily disgraceful,” writing: “No one should underestimate China’s determination and ability to defend its interests. This should not be seen as a conflict between the Dutch government and a Chinese company — it is a blatant violation of international rules by the Netherlands.”
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Bloomberg that China “is firmly determined to defend its rights and interests,” adding: “China always opposes exaggerating the concept of national security and discriminatory measures targeting companies from certain countries.”
The European Commission said it is “in close contact with the Dutch authorities” and that the Netherlands acted to address “a potential risk to Dutch and broader European economic security.” Brussels said it is still considering next steps.
Nexperia makes chips used in phones, cars, solar panels, and other everyday items. The company was acquired by Wingtech in 2019.
