Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is considering taking a controlling stake in Intel¡¯s factories at the request of Trump administration officials, a person familiar with the matter said, as the president looks to boost American manufacturing and maintain U.S. leadership in critical technologies.

Trump officials raised the idea of a deal between the two companies in recent meetings with the Taiwanese chipmaker, the person said, and TSMC was receptive. It¡¯s unclear whether Intel is open to a transaction.

The talks are in very early stages, and the exact structure of a potential partnership hasn¡¯t been established. But the intended result would have the world¡¯s largest made-to-order chipmaker fully operating Intel¡¯s U.S. semiconductor factories, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the conversations are private. It also would address concerns about Intel¡¯s deteriorating financial state, which has forced the company to slash jobs and curb its global expansion plans.