PHOENIX—On a desolate stretch of land dotted with cactuses some 30 minutes north of Phoenix, more than 30 cranes tower over a construction site 2½ times the size of New York City’s Central Park. A mammoth chip-manufacturing facility is rising, along with U.S. hopes of revitalizing a crucial industry. The plant’s biggest customer is Apple, which is using its enormous purchasing power to help boost American chip production. The company is seeking to diversify its supply chain, score tariff exemptions and answer the call of two presidents to help the U.S. reduce its dependency on foreign suppliers for the foundational…

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