Dutch intervention in the activities of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia has become one of the most illustrative episodes in the global competition for control over semiconductor supply chains. According to the publication, documents released on Tuesday by the Amsterdam court confirm that the Dutch authorities seized the company’s assets following increased pressure from Washington. NEWSCENTRAL assesses that this move signals that Europe is entering a new phase of technology policy, where national security begins to take precedence over economic pragmatism.
Lucas Grant, semiconductor industry analyst at NEWSCENTRAL, believes that the Nexperia case reflects a “shift in focus of the global industry from production and innovation to risk and dependency management.” According to him, “even manufacturers of basic chips and transistors are now viewed through the lens of geopolitics.”
The Dutch government announced on Sunday that it is intervening in Nexperia’s management, citing the risk of technology transfer to its parent company Wingtech Technology (600745.SS), based in China. Officially, the decision was made on national security grounds; however, Amsterdam Commercial Court documents show that The Hague’s position was formed in consultation with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the State Department, which insisted on leadership changes to prevent the company from being added to the U.S. sanctions list.
Court protocols indicate that during the June 12 meeting, U.S. representatives explicitly mentioned the need for personnel changes. “Almost certainly, the CEO will need to be replaced to obtain an exemption from the entity list,” the document states. According to Freddy Miller, Senior Analyst at NEWSCENTRAL, “this is an example of how regulatory tools are transformed into elements of political pressure affecting corporate autonomy.”
Wingtech, the owner of Nexperia, was added to the U.S. “entity list” in December 2024 due to dealings with companies capable of producing sensitive semiconductors. In September 2025, Washington expanded the list to include subsidiaries under Chinese control.
Following increased pressure, Nexperia announced that its former CEO Zhang Xuezheng had been removed by court order and that interim management has already been appointed. The company emphasized that it is under export restrictions from both the U.S. and China and is ready for negotiations to stabilize supplies.
Court documents indicate that on June 5, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs warned Nexperia about the risks of changes in U.S. regulation. Company discussions showed that being subjected to sanctions could cause significant business damage. According to Freddy Miller, “this is not an isolated case – it is part of a systemic trend in which national security issues directly interfere with the structure of technology corporations.”
Nexperia is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of discrete components, including transistors and diodes used in automobiles, consumer electronics, and telecommunications. The company’s main production facility is located in Hamburg, while chip assembly and packaging are carried out in China, increasing dependence on Asian supply chains.
On Monday, Wingtech told investors that it does not expect short-term production disruptions and intends to appeal the Dutch court decision. A source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the company’s management views the Dutch actions as a concession to U.S. pressure, while The Hague officially denies external interference.
As noted by Lucas Grant, “the timing of the U.S. sanctions list expansion and the Dutch authorities’ decision indicates indirect coordination, even if the parties do not formally confirm it.”
The escalation around Nexperia occurs against the backdrop of increased control over technology and semiconductor exports. The U.S. is expanding restrictions, Beijing is imposing quotas on rare earth exports, and Europe is caught between two centers of power. According to NEWSCENTRAL, this conflict is pushing the EU to find a formula for technological sovereignty capable of protecting its industrial base without losing access to global markets.
“European technology policy is entering a period of high turbulence,” summarizes Freddy Miller. “Every new intervention in private companies becomes an indicator of where the line between national security and market freedom lies.”
NEWSCENTRAL concludes that the fate of Nexperia will serve as a test for Europe’s overall semiconductor strategy. Decisions by Amsterdam and Brussels will determine whether Europe can maintain independence in the microchip market without falling under the shadow of Washington or Beijing.