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US-China relations
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Exclusive | Democrats demand to know whether Trump-Xi Nexperia deal blindsided Europe

Letter says EU officials ‘appeared unaware of reported breakthrough’ when engaging with Dutch chipmaker and Chinese trade representatives

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Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia produces an estimated 100 billion semiconductors a year, which are vital to the automotive industry. Photo: Reuters
Finbarr Berminghamin Brussels
Senior Democrat Party members of Congress have demanded to know whether US President Donald Trump cut a deal with Beijing on the future of Nexperia that left Washington’s European allies blindsided.
Democrats are asking if Trump acted in concert with the Netherlands and the European Union on a US-China deal on the beleaguered semiconductor maker, secured at a leaders’ summit in Busan last month.
A letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, seen by the South China Morning Post, says that senior EU officials “appeared unaware of the reported breakthrough” when they engaged with Nexperia’s Dutch leadership and Chinese trade officials on October 31.
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“Were allied governments consulted before that announcement?” wrote Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

The letter, dated November 10, bemoans the “lack of transparency and coordination between Washington and Brussels at a time of growing competition over semiconductor supply and industrial security”.

The letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, dated November 10, bemoans the “lack of transparency and coordination between Washington and Brussels”. Photo: AP
The letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, dated November 10, bemoans the “lack of transparency and coordination between Washington and Brussels”. Photo: AP

The Chinese-owned company became embroiled in an international storm in September, when Dutch authorities effectively seized control of operations, claiming Nexperia’s owners planned to move production and assets to China.

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