Trump demands Apple produce iPhones in the U.S. or face a 25% tariff, escalating pressure on tech giants over overseas manufacturing.
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| Trump targets Apple with threat of a 25% tariff on imported iPhones unless production moves to the U.S., intensifying pressure on American tech giants. Image: CH |
WASHINGTON, USA, May 23, 2025:
Former President Donald Trump has once again turned his attention to American tech companies, issuing a stark ultimatum to Apple: move iPhone manufacturing to the United States or face a 25% import tax. The warning, delivered Friday via Truth Social, underscores Trump's continued push to bring high-profile manufacturing back to American soil and could significantly impact the pricing and sales of iPhones across the country.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America to be manufactured and built in the United States, not India or anyplace else,” Trump wrote. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US.”
This announcement places Apple in a growing list of corporate giants—alongside Amazon and Walmart—that are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of Trump’s economic policies. These threats add to the climate of uncertainty and inflationary strain already stirred by previous rounds of import tariffs.
Apple, under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook, has been progressively shifting parts of its manufacturing operations to India in an effort to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependency on China—especially in response to Trump-era tariffs that disrupted global trade patterns. The move was seen as a strategic adjustment to avoid further tariffs, but it now appears to be a fresh point of contention for the former president.
Trump, who has repeatedly made reshoring manufacturing a central theme of his political agenda, reiterated his frustration with Apple’s overseas production during a recent visit to the Middle East. His renewed threat of import duties signals a willingness to reignite trade battles as he ramps up his rhetoric ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections.
Apple has yet to issue an official response to the tariff threat. However, analysts warn that the imposition of such a tax could raise iPhone prices considerably in the U.S., affecting consumer demand and potentially denting Apple’s bottom line.
This latest development intensifies scrutiny on tech companies as geopolitical tensions and economic nationalism reshape global manufacturing strategies.