Dutch government seizes control over Nexperia amid national security concerns

In an unprecedented move, the Dutch government has invoked emergency powers to temporarily seize control over chipmaker Nexperia, citing “serious governance issues and actions” resulting in risks to national security. The intervention follows mounting concerns that sensitive semiconductor knowledge could be transferred to China through its parent company, Wingtech, which has been under US sanctions since late 2024.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a statement on Sunday confirming deployment of the rarely used Wet Beschikbaarheid Goederen (Goods Availability Act) on 30 September, following a report in NRC a day earlier (links in Dutch). The government ordered Nexperia and all its subsidiaries, branches and offices not to make any adjustments to their assets, intellectual property, business operations or personnel for one year.