China Exempts Nexperia Chips from Export Controls

China has exempted Nexperia’s “civilian-use” chips from its export restrictions, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Sunday, in a move that could ease supply pressures for global automakers and their suppliers.

In a statement, the ministry said that Beijing had implemented measures allowing exports of Nexperia semiconductors that comply with civilian applications. The exemption marks one of the clearest signs yet that China intends to soften its export policy following months of trade tensions surrounding the Dutch-based chipmaker.

The decision is expected to boost chip availability for the automotive sector, which relies heavily on Nexperia’s power and analog components used in vehicle electrical systems.

Nexperia, a semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in the Netherlands, is owned by China’s Wingtech Technology. The company became the focus of geopolitical scrutiny after the Dutch government tightened control over its operations amid growing concerns about technology transfer and national security.

According to Reuters, Beijing’s latest exemption signals an attempt to ease friction with European partners and stabilize the global chip supply chain.

While the Chinese ministry did not specify what qualifies as “civilian use,” the announcement came shortly after German and Japanese companies reported the resumption of shipments of China-made Nexperia chips.

In a separate statement on Sunday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the European Union to “intensify efforts” to persuade the Netherlands to lift restrictions on Nexperia, calling the Dutch measures “erroneous.”

“China welcomes continued efforts by the EU to exercise its influence and encourage the Netherlands to correct its wrong actions,” the ministry said.

The move reflects Beijing’s balancing act between asserting control over strategic technologies and maintaining the flow of critical components vital to global industries, particularly the automotive sector, which continues to grapple with semiconductor shortages.