Rumour time
Apparently the Trump administration is demanding Taiwan do one of two things to get a trade deal with the US. 1) Invest $400 billion in US manufacturing or 2) TSMC buys a 49% ownership of Intel
The US government is focused on Intel getting back on track, as the chipmaker has been part of the ongoing trade negotiations with Taiwan.
wccftech.com
49%, leaving Intel with the controlling stake.
Basically Trump wants TSMC to bring Intel up to the same standard as themselves for a 49% stake in Intel's fabs, not Intel just the fabs, Intel would remain a competitor to TSMC, Intel can't compete with TSMC so Trump figures make TSMC help Intel compete with TSMC.
As they will need to make money from these Intel - TSMC fabs Intel need at least one and probably two of the big ones, Apple, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Nvidia, AMD. Intel also wish to keep competing with Qualcomm, Apple, Texas Instruments, Nvidia and AMD designs while also having them use Intel's now TSMC updated fabs, not TSMC's own fabs while at the same time running the risk of Intel using their design secretes in their own designs.
So Intel / Trump think they can convince TSMC to give Intel their hard-earned work and R&D to make them compete better with themselves, Trump / Intel also think they can convince other American Semiconductor companies to have their competitor Intel make their stuff and in that way also having TSMC hand over these customers to Intel for 49% of the fab.
Is this bold, stupid or arrogant?