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In a fresh attack on overseas manufacturing, US President Donald Trump has warned Apple that iPhones not made in the United States could face a 25% tariff, and other smartphone makers like Samsung may not be spared either.Speaking on Truth Social and later to reporters at the White House, Trump said he expects Apple and its CEO Tim Cook to move production from countries like India back to the United States. “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,” he posted Friday. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US.”He added in person, “It would be more. It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product. Otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.”Trump’s comments follow reports that Apple is planning to produce most of its US-sold iPhones in India. Cook had told investors during an earnings call earlier this month that “the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin.”The warning comes after Trump met Cook in Riyadh last week and again at the White House on Tuesday.
“I had a little problem with Tim Cook,” Trump said during a stop in Qatar. “I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend. I treated you very good. You’re coming in with $500 billion.’ But now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”The move could have serious consequences for Apple and US consumers. Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities said it would cost the company roughly $30 billion and up to 10 years to fully move iPhone production to America.
“The concept of Apple producing iPhones in the US is a fairy tale that is not feasible,” Ives said. He added that the cost of US-made iPhones could reach $3,500 if Apple replicated its Asian supply chain locally.Gene Munster from Deepwater Asset Management said Apple may not be able to absorb the cost of tariffs forever. “Anything below 30, they will probably carry the vast majority of that increase,” he explained. “But I think at some point they’re going to have to start to share it.”Apple has announced a $500 billion US investment plan to ease tensions, which includes building server facilities in Houston and expanding data centres in 20 states.Despite Apple’s efforts, Trump appears firm. “When they build their plant here, there’s no tariffs. So they’re going to be building plants here,” he said.Samsung, which mostly manufactures in South Korea, Vietnam, India, and Brazil, could also be hit. Although it moved out of China years ago, Trump insisted that all non-US phone production would face the same treatment. “It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product,” he said.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supported Trump’s call, saying the goal is to “bring back precision manufacturing to the US.” He also flagged concerns about the security of Apple’s semiconductor supply chain.
English (US)