US President Trump has been quite adamant aboutusing tariffsto bring countries to the negotiating table on trade, and now his next target isn’t a country. Instead, it’sApple, one of the largest tech companies in the world.
President Trump issued his starkest warning yet to Apple on Friday morning, saying that “a tariff of at least 25 percent must be paid by Apple” if the production of the iPhone is not brought 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.” Trump posted onTruth Social. “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!”
Apple has yet to respond to Trump’s remarks.
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Trump has “a little problem” with Tim Cook
It’s not just Apple facing renewed tariff threats, but the EU too
The first signs of Trump’s frustrations with Apple emerged about a week ago when the president, speaking to the press, mentioned that he has “a little problem” with Apple CEO Tim Cook, stating that he doesn’t want him “building in India.” This comment followed reports that Apple was planning to increase iPhone production in India by constructing new plants in the country to mitigate the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs on China.
“I said to him, my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump said, speaking to reporters last week about Tim Cook (viaCNBC).
Trump’s reference to the $500 billion relates to Apple’s commitment made in February to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years to hire 20,000 new workers and build a new factory for manufacturing servers for Apple Intelligence. However, Apple’s commitment does not include a promise to produce any iPhones in the US.
If Trump imposes a 25 percent tariff on Apple products imported to the US, prices for popular items like iPhones, iPads, and Macs are likely to rise for consumers.
Currently, US tariffs on China are set at 30 percent, while those on India are set at 10 percent. However, most electronics, such as smartphones and laptops, are currently exempt from these tariffs (viaAP). Given Trump’s criticism of Apple on Truth Social, though, that exemption might not last much longer.
Apple wasn’t the only target of Trump’s tariff rhetoric on Friday morning either. The president also took aim at the European Union, threatening a 50 percent tariff on all goods coming from the EU, saying that it “has been very difficult to deal with” and that he is “recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 27, 2025.”
Apple is anticipated to launch the iPhone 17 series this fall. These tariffs could significantly influence this year’s release…
It seems from Trump’s comments that the threat of impending tariffs isn’t going away anytime soon, as the president seeks to persuade companies to move their production to the US and address “trade deficits” the US has with its trading partners.
If Trump imposes a 25 percent tariff on Apple products imported to the US, prices for popular items like iPhones, iPads, and Macs are likely to rise for consumers. Apple is anticipated to launch theiPhone 17 seriesthis fall. These tariffs could significantly influence this year’s release, which is already rumored tosee a price hikeeven before Trump’s renewed tariff threats.
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