On December 10, 2025, a fresh chapter unfolded in the ongoing saga between Dutch chipmaker Nexperia and its Chinese parent company, Wingtech Technology Co., as Wingtech extended an invitation to Nexperia’s court-appointed custodians for direct talks in China. The move comes after months of escalating internal disputes, government interventions, and a global chip shortage that has left automakers worldwide scrambling for critical components.
According to Reuters, the invitation was sent to Guido Dierick and Arnold Croiset van Uchelen, the two individuals appointed by the Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber to oversee Nexperia after the Dutch court seized nearly all of the company’s shares. This extraordinary measure was triggered by mounting concerns over control, payment disputes, and the broader geopolitical tensions that have increasingly entangled the global tech industry.
Wingtech’s outreach represents a potential turning point in a conflict that has, so far, resisted resolution. For the automotive sector, which relies heavily on Nexperia’s chips, the stakes could hardly be higher. The dispute has already caused production delays and supply chain headaches for automakers, as reported by multiple sources, including Reuters and South China Morning Post. With stockpiles of Nexperia’s chips dwindling, the car industry now faces the real possibility of renewed shortages, a scenario reminiscent of the pandemic-era chip crunch that brought assembly lines to a standstill.
The roots of the crisis stretch back to September, when the Dutch government, under pressure from the United States, intervened in Nexperia’s operations. The intervention was part of a broader effort to align with Washington’s push for tighter controls on technology transfers to China, a campaign that has already seen several high-profile tech deals blocked or unraveled across Europe and North America. As the South China Morning Post observed, “Nexperia has become a casualty of the US-China trade war.” Smaller companies, it seems, are often left to navigate the fallout when superpowers clash.
Despite a recent easing of government restrictions on Nexperia by both Chinese and Dutch authorities, the company has remained mired in legal and operational turmoil. A court fight continues, and the internal battle between Nexperia’s European and Chinese arms has only intensified. At the heart of the conflict is a sharp disagreement over control and supply lines. Nexperia’s Chinese packaging subsidiary has declared independence and is now seeking to replace European-made wafers with those manufactured in China. Meanwhile, the European production division has halted all wafer shipments to China, citing nonpayment as the reason for the stoppage. This standoff has left the company’s global customers in limbo and raised alarms throughout the automotive supply chain.
“We have seen no indications of any willingness to engage in meaningful discussions on the restoration of the supply chain,” a spokesperson for Nexperia BV told Reuters, underscoring the depth of the rift. The company’s European leadership had previously called for talks with its Chinese counterparts in late November, but those overtures reportedly went unanswered until Wingtech’s latest invitation.
For their part, the court-appointed custodians confirmed receipt of Wingtech’s letter. Arnold Croiset van Uchelen, one of the custodians, told Reuters that he and Guido Dierick had indeed been contacted by the Chinese parent company. The specifics of the proposed discussions remain unclear, but the timing suggests a sense of urgency on all sides. With stockpiles running low and the car industry’s anxiety mounting, there is little room for further delay.
The broader context of the dispute is, of course, the ongoing US-China trade war and its ripple effects across Europe. As noted by the South China Morning Post, the Dutch government’s intervention in Nexperia’s affairs was driven in large part by American pressure. At the 2025 Reagan National Defence Forum in California, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a blunt message to allies: “Allies that still fail to do their part for collective defence will face consequences.” The latest National Security Strategy from the White House leaves little doubt about the seriousness of Washington’s stance.
When the US and China reached a one-year trade truce earlier this year, the Netherlands found itself in a precarious position—caught between its economic interests, its obligations as a NATO ally, and its role as a key player in the global semiconductor industry. As the South China Morning Post put it, “the Netherlands was left holding the bag over Nexperia.” The country’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for smaller economies and companies caught in the crossfire of great power competition.
Meanwhile, Nexperia’s Chinese packaging division has moved to assert its independence, seeking alternative suppliers for wafers and attempting to shift its reliance away from Europe. This development has further complicated efforts to restore normal operations and rebuild trust between the company’s European and Chinese arms. The European production team, for its part, remains adamant that no shipments will resume until outstanding payments are settled.
The impasse has not gone unnoticed by governments on both sides. While Chinese and Dutch officials have recently relaxed some restrictions on Nexperia in hopes of stabilizing the situation, the underlying issues of control, payment, and trust remain unresolved. Industry analysts warn that unless a breakthrough is achieved soon, the risk of prolonged chip shortages—and the attendant economic fallout—will only grow.
As the situation stands, the fate of Nexperia hangs in the balance. The outcome of the proposed talks in China could determine not only the company’s future, but also the stability of a critical segment of the global supply chain. For automakers, the stakes are immediate and tangible: without a steady flow of chips, production lines could grind to a halt, jobs could be lost, and consumers could face higher prices and longer wait times for new vehicles.
Yet the Nexperia dispute is also emblematic of a much larger dilemma facing the global tech industry. As geopolitical tensions rise and governments move to exert greater control over strategic sectors, companies like Nexperia find themselves navigating an increasingly treacherous landscape. The lessons of the past year are clear: in today’s interconnected world, the fates of even the most specialized firms are inextricably linked to the shifting currents of international politics.
With negotiations now on the horizon, all eyes are on Nexperia, Wingtech, and the court-appointed custodians. Whether they can bridge the divide and restore stability to the supply chain remains an open question. For now, the automotive world—and much of the tech industry—waits with bated breath.
