Chips off the Table

Holland pulls rank on Chinese chipmaker Nexperia

In a rare diplomatic move, a European governing body recently took action against a Chinese manufacturer. On September 30, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs invoked the Goods Availability Act, due to "serious governance shortcomings at semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia," per an international press release from The Hague (Netherlands).

The company’s headquarters are located in Nijmegen, Netherlands, with additional subsidiaries in various countries around the world. The decision aims to prevent a situation in which the goods produced by Nexperia (finished and semi-finished products) would become unavailable in an emergency. The company’s regular production process can continue.

"The Act has been invoked following recent and acute signals of serious governance shortcomings and actions within Nexperia," according to the statement from The Hague, which added "these signals posed a threat to the continuity and safeguarding on Dutch and European soil of crucial technological knowledge and capabilities. Losing these capabilities could pose a risk to Dutch and European economic security. Nexperia produces, among other things, chips.