Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Apple and Other Smartphone Makers

In a bold and potentially industry-shaking move, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple and other major smartphone manufacturers unless they relocate their production operations to the United States.

Initially singling out Apple, Trump later broadened the scope of his warning to include all companies producing smartphones overseas.

“It would also be Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair,” he said during a press briefing in Washington on Friday. The proposed tariffs, he added, could take effect by the end of June.

Although Apple designs its devices in California, the majority of its flagship product, the iPhone, is assembled in China—a country currently locked in a long-standing trade dispute with the U.S. Apple has taken steps to diversify its supply chain, including plans to expand production in India. However, that move appears insufficient in Trump’s eyes.

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Taking to Truth Social, Trump reiterated a long-standing demand he claims to have made directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook: “I expect their iPhones 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 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US.”

The remarks echo comments Trump made during a recent visit to Qatar on May 15, where he revealed a conversation with Tim Cook. “We’re not interested in you building in India… we want you to build here,” Trump said, suggesting Apple would increase domestic production in response to his push.

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Samsung, Apple’s chief competitor, is also in the spotlight. The South Korean tech giant assembles the majority of its smartphones in Vietnam, China, and India. With Apple and Samsung together commanding roughly 80% of the U.S. smartphone market, the proposed tariffs could send shockwaves through the global electronics industry.

Smaller players such as Google, Xiaomi, and Motorola are unlikely to be spared, as they too rely heavily on overseas manufacturing facilities.

If enacted, these tariffs could lead to higher smartphone prices in the United States, putting pressure on both manufacturers and consumers. Companies may also face tough decisions about reshoring operations—an expensive and logistically complex process that could alter global supply chains for years to come.

While Trump’s stance on bringing jobs and manufacturing back to the U.S. is consistent with his “America First” economic agenda, the ripple effects of such a sweeping policy could have far-reaching implications not just for tech companies, but also for trade relations and the broader economy.

As the June deadline looms, all eyes are on Apple, Samsung, and other tech giants to see how they’ll respond to the escalating pressure. Whether through negotiation, partial relocation, or passing costs onto consumers, one thing is certain: the smartphone industry may be on the verge of a significant transformation.