The Trump administration is in talks with semiconductor companies over the construction of chip factories in the United States, representatives of two chip makers said on Sunday.
Intel is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense on improving domestic sources of microelectronics and related technologies, said Intel spokesperson William Moss in an email release.
"Intel is well positioned to work with the United States government to operate a commercial foundry owned by the United States and to provide a wide range of secure microelectronics," said the release.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), on the other hand, has entered into talks with the United States Department of Commerce regarding the construction of a factory in the United States, but has stated that it is not 39; had not yet made a final decision.
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"We are actively evaluating all relevant sites, including the United States, but there is no concrete plan yet," TSMC spokesperson Nina Kao said in a statement.
In late March, Intel chief executive officer Bob Swan wrote a letter to the defense ministry expressing the company's desire to build a foundry, a term used in the industry for designate a chip factory, in association with the Pentagon.
"It is more important than ever, given the uncertainty created by the current geopolitical environment," Swan wrote in a letter dated March 30 and seen by Reuters on Sunday.
This is happening in the midst of a surge in diplomatic tensions between the United States. USA And China during the coronavirus epidemic, and the two sides exchange views on who is to blame for the spread of the disease after being involved in trade tensions for almost two years.
"We currently believe that it is in the interest of the United States and Intel to explore how Intel could operate a commercial foundry in the United States to provide a wide range of microelectronics" , added the letter from the CEO of Intel.
Trump administration's discussions with chip makers have already been reported by the Wall Street Journal, the report added that TSMC had also spoken to Apple, one of its major customers, about the construction of a chip factory in the United States.
TSMC declined to comment on discussions with the iPhone maker.
The Journal also reported that U.S. officials were seeking to help Samsung of South Korea, which has a chip factory in Austin, Texas, to expand its contract manufacturing operations in the United States. A Samsung spokesperson in Seoul declined to comment on Monday.
On Sunday, the United States Department of Commerce and Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
© Thomson Reuters 2020