Washington D.C. | December 1, 2025 :
In a move that blends political strategy with technological ambition, Apple is reportedly exploring a landmark partnership with Intel to manufacture its mid-tier M-series chips in the United States starting 2027. The shift comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to enforce aggressive “Made in USA” mandates, tighten tariffs on foreign technology imports, and reconfigure global supply chains once he takes office in January 2026.
The proposed collaboration marks one of Apple’s biggest strategic realignments in decades. While Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will continue producing high-end Mac processors and high-volume iPhone chips, Intel’s American facilities—particularly its Arizona and Ohio foundries—are being evaluated for M-series production. Sources familiar with the negotiations say the decision is driven by rising U.S.-China trade frictions, which disrupted chip flows throughout 2025.
For Intel, the timing is critical. After a turbulent year marked by former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s abrupt exit in December 2024 and sweeping layoffs that reduced its workforce to 75,000 by the end of 2025, new CEO Lip-Bu Tan is under pressure to revive the company’s lagging foundry business. A multi-billion-dollar Apple contract could be the lifeline needed to restore confidence and competitiveness against TSMC.
The deal also dovetails with Trump’s campaign promise to create 2 million new manufacturing jobs by prioritizing domestic production. However, critics warn of unintended consequences. Elon Musk, speaking on a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, argued that limiting global tech talent—especially H-1B workers—could backfire, noting that “the US benefitted immensely from talented Indians.”
Supporters counter that the partnership could mitigate vulnerabilities exposed by supply chain breakdowns during typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines and Storm Claudia in Europe. Economists note that the global semiconductor sector, rocked by climate disruptions and geopolitical tensions, is increasingly shifting toward geographically diversified production.
The talks also follow a wave of high-profile acquisitions in 2025, including HPE’s $13.4 billion takeover of Juniper Networks and Zscaler’s purchase of Red Canary for $675 million. Analysts say Apple’s realignment could accelerate consolidation trends while bolstering its image after a year of antitrust scrutiny and slowing iPhone sales.
The potential partnership could also benefit allied nations like India, where H-1B visa holders remain key to U.S. innovation pipelines. As Trump-aligned leaders such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio promote “realistic optimism” in America’s tech race, industry experts believe the Apple-Intel alliance could reshape global chip dynamics and fuel next-generation AI development.
With competitors like Samsung watching closely, analysts forecast that such shifts may redefine the $500 billion semiconductor market by 2030, triggering a new era of tech nationalism and strategic reshoring.
