Apple supplier Foxconn is in talks to invest in the U.S. www.cnn.com
One of Apple's biggest suppliers is in talks to invest in the United States.
Taiwan-based Foxconn is a giant contract manufacturer that plays a key role in assembling iPhones for Apple (AAPL, Tech30), employing hundreds of thousands of workers in mainland China.
"We are in preliminary discussions regarding a potential investment that would represent an expansion of our current U.S. operations," Foxconn said in a statement provided to CNNMoney.
The company was responding to the appearance of Foxconn's name on a document carried by a top Japanese tech CEO in a meeting Tuesday with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
After the meeting, Trump took credit for a planned $50 billion investment in U.S. startups by the Japanese company, Softbank (SFTBF), that he said would create 50,000 jobs.
Photos showed SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son holding a document with the logos of both his company and Foxconn's.
"Commit to: Invest $50bn + $7bn in US, generate 50k + 50k new jobs in US in next 4 years," the document said.
foxconn terry gou
Foxconn founder Terry Gou speaking at a shareholders meeting in Taiwan in June.
That led to speculation that Foxconn could be planning to invest $7 billion in the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs.
But Foxconn declined to provide any further information.
"While the scope of the potential investment has not been determined, we will announce the details of any plans following the completion of direct discussions between our leadership and the relevant U.S. officials," it said.
Foxconn declined to comment on whether the possible investment is linked to Trump's election.
Trump tweeted that Son told him Softbank's investment would not have happened if Trump hadn't won the U.S. election. After the meeting, Son said he told Trump he would like to "celebrate his presidential job" because Trump has made deregulation part of his platform.
But it wasn't clear how much of the money Son pledged might have ended up in the U.S. anyway.
In October, weeks before the election, SoftBank and the government of Saudi Arabia announced plans to form a $100 billion fund to invest in technology companies around the world. Son told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the money he promised Trump would come from the huge fund.
It wasn't clear why Son was carrying a document with Foxconn's name on it. The two companies are separate but have worked together in the past. Son is known to be friends with Foxconn's founder, Terry Gou.
-- Jill Disis and David Goldman contributed to this report.
Published Date:2016-12-07