On Friday, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Apple, stating that iPhones sold within the United States must be manufactured domestically or face a 25% tariff.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones sold in the United States to be manufactured and built in the United States — not India or anyplace else,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid.”
Following his post, Apple’s stock dropped by 2.5% in pre-market trading, leading to a broader decline across tech indices.
Apple recently shifted more of its iPhone production to India, aiming to reduce its dependence on China. The company indicated that a significant portion of iPhones sold in the U.S. this quarter would be assembled in India.
Although fully assembled smartphones are temporarily exempt from tariffs on Chinese imports, many internal components still incur duties. Apple estimates these tariffs could cost the company approximately $900 million this quarter.
The tech giant has yet to respond to Trump’s comments. However, analysts warn that continued threats of steep tariffs could disrupt global tech supply chains and intensify debates surrounding U.S. manufacturing policy.
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