Apple-supplier Foxconn will announce a plant in Wisconsin on Wednesday evening, accompanied by President Donald Trumpand Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a source with knowledge of the announcement told CNBC.
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will also be present at the announcement in Washington, a source said. No exact location for the plant has been chosen — but the area of southeast Wisconsin between Milwaukee and Chicago is under consideration, according to a source.
A source said that seven states were considered for the expansion, but Wisconsin appears to be a preliminary winner, and Ohio is a contender. About 10,000 jobs could be created.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Foxconn may be eyeing a new U.S. plant for display panels.
Foxconn is also known as Hon Hai Precision, a longtime supplier to Apple and other electronics companies that has come under scrutiny in the past over labor practices in China. It is unclear if Apple is involved in Wednesday’s announcement.
The announcement would come on the heels of a Wall Street Journal interview with Trump, where he said he had spoken to Apple CEO Tim Cook about three U.S. factories. Apple has yet to comment on Trump’s remarks. Cook told Jim Cramer on CNBC’s “Mad Money” in May it would start a $1 billion fund to promote advanced manufacturing jobs in the United States.
With its wide network of developers, Apple has already created two million jobs in the United States, according to Cook. Apple supplier Corning told CNBC last week that it would “immediately” invest $500 million and create 1,000 new jobs in the United States, but those jobs are related to medical devices.
CNBC has reached out to Apple, Foxconn, the White House and Ryan for comment. Walker said to watch his Twitter and gave no further comment.
— Reporting by CNBC’s Justin Solomon. Scott Cohn contributed to this report.
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White House to announce Apple-supplier Foxconn manufacturing plant in Wisconsin on Wednesday: Source