China has announced exemptions to its export restrictions on Nexperia-made chips intended for civilian applications, a move expected to ease supply pressures on global carmakers and automotive suppliers.
—aThe decision marks Beijing’s strongest indication so far that it is willing to relax limitations imposed after the Dutch government took control of Nexperia — a Netherlands-based chipmaker owned by China’s Wingtech. Nexperia produces essential, low-cost semiconductors widely used in automotive electrical systems, and the earlier export halt had disrupted supply chains worldwide.
Although China did not clarify what qualifies as “civilian use,” the announcement comes after German and Japanese firms reported that shipments of Nexperia’s China-made chips had resumed.
—remainDespite this development, tensions between China and the Netherlands—and the broader European Union — remain unresolved. The dispute began when the Dutch government seized control of Nexperia on September 30, citing concerns that Wingtech planned to shift key European production to China, potentially threatening Europe’s economic security.
China retaliated by blocking exports of Nexperia’s finished chips, most of which are packaged in China. Following an October 30 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing said it would start accepting applications for export exemptions.
China’s commerce ministry maintains that it is safeguarding global semiconductor supply chains and insists the Netherlands is responsible for the ongoing conflict. In its latest statement, the ministry urged the European Union to press the Dutch government to reverse its takeover of Nexperia, calling on the EU to “intensify efforts” to encourage the Netherlands to “correct its mistaken actions.
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