The Dutch government could relinquish control of microchip giant Nexperia if China lifts an export ban which has triggered a parts shortage crisis at European factories.

People close to the discussions between the Netherlands and China said the Dutch were prepared to reverse a previous decision to seize control of Nexperia as soon as next week, according to Bloomberg.

Vincent Karremans, the Dutch minister for economic affairs, said he expected the impasse to be resolved shortly.

The two sides have been locked in talks since last month when the Netherlands government used Cold War-era powers to essentially take control of Chinese-owned, but Dutch-headquartered, Nexperia.

The company is a major producer of chips that are ubiquitous in everything from cars to medical devices and defence platforms.

Dutch officials said they intervened for security reasons amid local media reports that Chinese executives were preparing to shut down the company’s European operations.

In response to the move, Beijing imposed strict export controls that stopped chips made by the Chinese division of Nexperia – which finishes and packages the products – being sent to the rest of the world.

It created a major crisis that prompted manufacturers to warn they were running down stockpiles and were days away from production line stoppages.

However, the Dutch government appeared to capitulate late on Thursday, as it was reported that officials were willing to walk back the seizure of Nexperia.

“Given the constructive nature of our talks with the Chinese authorities, the Netherlands trusts that the supply of chips from China to Europe and the rest of the world will reach Nexperia’s customers over the coming days,” Mr Karremans said.

Carmakers including Volkswagen and Nissan had warned that they would have to cut back production if the growing chip shortage was not resolved urgently.

Nissan UK – which makes cars including the Qashqai and Juke in Sunderland – warned on Friday that it was temporarily cutting production until supplies resumed.

A spokesman said: “The supply situation remains fluid and we are monitoring developments closely. To manage risk, we are implementing targeted production adjustments.

“Once supply stabilises, we will recover quickly and ensure any impact on customer deliveries is minimised.”

Elsewhere on Friday, a major German automotive supplier suggested China had lifted controls on Nexperia’s exports.

Aumovio resumed shipping Nexperia semiconductors and components containing them after receiving an export licence from Beijing earlier this week, said Philipp von Hirschheydt, the chief executive.

Aumovio makes products such as sensors, brakes and automated driving systems that go into cars, supplying giants including BMW and Volkswagen.

Mr von Hirschheydt said: “It will take some time before all procedures and processes will get back to normal... [But] if everything I know today is correct, we are not going to be affected.”

The Dutch government had previously claimed Wingtech, Nexperia’s Chinese parent, was deliberately seeking to hobble the chipmaker.

It accused Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng of “misuse of financial resources” for his own enrichment and that of “his other companies in China”.

Wingtech denies the claims and has demanded Mr Zhang is reinstated as Nexperia’s chief executive. He was suspended on October 7 by a court following a petition by management.

The Dutch government’s intervention gave it the right to block or change key decisions, including the relocation of company parts or the dismissal of executives, for as long as a year.

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