Trump to Apple: Build iPhones in the US or Face 25% Tariffs

Even as Apple has been shifting some of its manufacturing and supply-chain strategies in recent months in response to US-imposed tariffs against China, the world’s biggest tech company has another tariff issue it may need to content with. 

President Donald Trump posted on TruthSocial Friday that a tariff of “at least 25% must be paid by Apple” if the company doesn’t manufacture and build iPhones in the US.

The post reads in full:

I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter!  

The post follows previous comments made by the president about Apple CEO Tim Cook in which he said, “I said to him, Tim, you’re my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion but now I hear you building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.” 

Trump said at the time that Cook promised to increase iPhone manufacturing in the US, but experts have said that full iPhone production based in the US would take years and would probably not apply to some of the company’s more advanced iPhone models, which would still be primarily made in China.

Earlier this year, the US imposed steep tariffs against exports from China, but rolled back some of them for 90 days. An exemption was made for smartphones and computers, but it’s unclear if that will hold and for how long. 

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.