Inside the Nexperia crisis: what it means for Europe’s tech sovereignty
A story of semiconductors, geopolitics and Europe’s struggle to define its economic security in a world of rising US-China tensions
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan sits down with Alicia García-Herrero and Marc Hijink to examine the Nexperia case – the Dutch semiconductor firm owned by China’s Wingtech – and how it became a flashpoint in Europe’s evolving relationship with China. We unpack how corporate governance disputes, US export controls, Chinese industrial policy and Europe’s growing focus on tech sovereignty collided in a single, high-stakes conflict.
This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics.
ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe.
Related content
China's presence in the Eastern Mediterranean
A closer look at China's strategic economic footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean and the lessons it holds for the EU
China’s Yuan and Europe’s industry: a growing imbalance
How exchange rates, overcapacity and price divergence are reshaping EU–China trade and why Europe may need new policy tools
Why European firms are rethinking their presence in China
An empirical analysis of evolving European business strategies in China amid rising economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension
How do China, the US, and the EU fare in critical technologies?
Comparing the evolution of frontier innovation in quantum computing, semiconductors and artificial intelligence in the three economies