The logo of Chinese-owned semiconductor company Nexperia is displayed at the Chinese-owned semiconductor company’s German facility after the Dutch government seized control and auto industry groups warned of a possible impact on car production, October 23, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany.
Jonas Walzberg | Reuters
In the latest development in a dispute over technology transfer, China has called on the Netherlands to quickly correct its “mistakes” against chipmaker Nexperia and restore stability to the global semiconductor industry.
In September, the Dutch government invoked a Cold War-era law to effectively take control of Neexperia, a Chinese-owned semiconductor manufacturer based in the Netherlands. This unusual step was reportedly taken after the United States expressed security concerns.
In response, China moved to prevent its products from leaving China, sparking alarm among global automakers as chipmakers faced component shortages.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday that the Netherlands should “immediately correct its mistakes and remove obstacles to restoring stability and security to the global semiconductor supply chain.”
“In the face of uncertainty and insecurity in the global industry, the Netherlands has remained apathetic and stubbornly insisted on doing its own thing, taking no responsible stance or taking any substantive action towards the security of the global semiconductor supply chain,” the spokesperson said in a statement, according to Google Translate.
A Dutch government spokesperson contacted by CNBC on Wednesday morning was not immediately available for comment. Dutch Economy Minister Vincent Kallemans has repeatedly defended his decision to intervene in the company in recent weeks.
Nexperia manufactures billions of so-called foundation chips (transistors, diodes, power management components) that are produced in Europe, assembled and tested in China, and re-exported to customers in Europe and elsewhere.
Low-tech, inexpensive chips are needed in almost every device that uses electricity. In cars, they are used to connect batteries to motors, lights and sensors, braking systems, airbag controllers, entertainment systems, and electric windows.
The auto industry group said disruptions in the Nexperia parts supply chain have not yet been fundamentally resolved and parts availability remains uncertain.
Japan’s Nissan and German auto parts supplier Bosch are among the companies warning of impending supply shortages.
A spokesperson for the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA), which represents hundreds of companies including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz Group and BMW, warned CNBC last month that supply risks will increase “particularly in the first quarter” of 2026.
— CNBC’s Annika Kim Constantino contributed to this report.
