Donald Trump is at it again, this time taking aim at Apple and the iPhone. He’s threatening to slap a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the US if they’re not made in America. This could mean a pricey hike for consumers – we’re talking 25% more for the latest iPhone.
Trump’s Ultimatum to Apple
Trump is adamant that Apple should produce iPhones in the US, not in countries like China or India. But here’s the thing: it’s almost impossible to make iPhones in the US without massive investments and years of hard work. And even if Apple managed to pull it off, American consumers would likely end up paying hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more for their iPhones.
Trump recently took to his Truth Social account to inform Tim Cook that he expects iPhones sold in the US to be “made and built” in the US. If not, the Apple CEO can expect a tariff of at least 25% on iPhones sold in the country.
The Problem with Trump’s Plan
The issue is that most iPhones are currently made in China, and while Tim Cook has said that over half of the models sold in the US are now produced in India, this doesn’t seem to be enough for Trump. The thing is, producing iPhones in the US would require a massive overhaul of Apple’s manufacturing process, not to mention a significant investment of time and money.
It’s worth noting that Trump’s threat comes despite Tim Cook’s attempts to win him over, including a $1 million donation to his inauguration fund. But it seems that hasn’t been enough to sway the president, who continues to push for Apple to bring its manufacturing back to the US.