US backs Apple-Intel chip deal, secures tariff exemption

The Trump administration facilitated a partnership between Apple and Intel last year as part of a broader effort to revive the domestic semiconductor industry, according to reports published on July 11, 2026. The arrangement, which involved government pressure and a major federal equity investment in Intel, secured Apple an exemption from proposed 100% tariffs on semiconductor imports.

During negotiations in the summer of 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to argue against the planned tariffs. Apple ultimately secured an exemption after committing to increase its U.S. investments by hundreds of billions of dollars. In those same discussions, administration officials urged Apple to utilize Intel’s domestic manufacturing facilities for some of its chips. Trump later confirmed the partnership in a social media post, stating he decided to help Intel because chips need to be designed and built in the United States.

The government’s role extended beyond advocacy. Federal authorities converted approximately $9 billion in CHIPS Act funding into a direct 10% equity stake in Intel, making the U.S. government the company’s largest...