Svolta nei chip: Apple e Intel verso un accordo storico sulla produzione negli Usa

Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary agreement for the production of certain chips for Apple devices within the United States. The arrangement marks a significant shift in the supply chain for the Cupertino-based company and is intended to strengthen high-tech manufacturing on American soil.

The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations between the two companies have been ongoing since before May 2025. These discussions were supported by the Trump administration as part of a broader effort to return high-technology production to the U.S. A formal agreement was defined in the months leading up to May 2026.

The news of the potential partnership triggered immediate reactions in the financial markets. Apple shares rose by 1.67%, while Intel shares saw a significant jump of 12.65%.

For Intel, the agreement is a central component of a broader industrial relaunch. The company is focusing on its Intel Foundry division, which aims to expand production for external clients in addition to designing its own chips. This strategic pivot follows several years of performance that fell below expectations.

The restructuring of Intel’s business model has been led by CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who assumed the role in the spring of 2025. Tan has been tasked with revitalizing the company’s two primary industrial pillars: chip design and third-party production.

The path to this agreement with Apple was facilitated by significant government intervention. In the summer of 2025, the Trump administration concluded a deal to convert nearly $9 billion in federal grants into Intel shares. This move provided the United States government with a 10% ownership stake in the chip manufacturer.

This government participation played a key role in bringing Apple to the negotiating table, establishing the groundwork for changes in the iPhone maker’s supply chain. While the specific products that will utilize Intel-produced chips have not yet been disclosed, the scale of Apple’s operations is substantial. The company sells over 200 million iPhones annually, along with millions of Mac computers and iPads.

The collaboration is viewed as a move to diversify Apple’s supply chain, reducing reliance on existing manufacturing partners by integrating more domestic production capabilities.