On Friday, President Trump took a strong stance against Apple, warning the tech giant of a hefty 25% tariff on iPhones if they don’t shift their production back to the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, he stated, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s [sic] 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 you for your attention to this matter!”
This statement comes just days after Foxconn, one of Apple’s key manufacturing partners, revealed plans for a $1.5 billion investment in its operations in India. Amid ongoing trade tensions with China, Apple has been exploring options to move more of its production to India.
During an earnings call earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned that most iPhones sold in the U.S. would likely be labeled as made in India.
While in the Middle East last week, Trump expressed his concerns about Apple’s move towards India, as reported by CNN. The two leaders also had a meeting on Tuesday, but details of their conversation were not extensively shared.
Trump has been increasingly vocal about companies trying to dodge U.S. tariffs. Just recently, he urged Walmart to “EAT THE TARIFFS,” suggesting they absorb the costs instead of passing them onto customers.
