Trump administration in talks with chip makers about building US factories, amid coronavirus tensions with China
- Trump administration has been in discussions with Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co over improving domestic sources for microelectronics
- Apple and Samsung also approached about US manufacturing operations, according to media report
The Trump administration is in talks with semiconductor companies about building chip factories in the United States, representatives from two chip makers said on Sunday.
Intel Corp is in discussions with the United States Department of Defence over improving domestic sources for microelectronics and related technology, Intel spokesman William Moss said in an emailed statement.
“Intel is well positioned to work with the US government to operate a US-owned commercial foundry and supply a broad range of secure microelectronics”, the statement added.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), on the other hand, has been in talks with the US Department of Commerce about building a US factory but said it has not made a final decision yet.
“We are actively evaluating all the suitable locations, including in the US, but there is no concrete plan yet”, TSMC spokeswoman Nina Kao said in a statement.
Intel Chief Executive Bob Swan wrote to the Department of Defence in late March expressing the company’s willingness to build a foundry – a term used in the industry to reference a chip factory – in partnership with the Pentagon.