Trump Threatens To Impose A 25 Percent Tariff If IPhones Are Not Manufactured In The United States

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued a stern warning to Apple, demanding that the technology company relocate its iPhone production to the United States or face an import tariff of 25 percent. 

"I have long informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect the iPhones sold in the United States to be manufactured domestically, rather than in India or elsewhere. If not, Apple will have to pay a tariff of at least 25 percent to the United States," Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, as quoted on Sunday. 

According to Tech Crunch, this statement came just days after Apple’s main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, announced a $1.5 billion investment to expand its operations in India. Apple is attempting to shift some of its hardware production to India, following uncertainties in trade relations between the U.S. and China during Trump’s presidency. 

In an earnings report conference earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that the majority of iPhones sold in the United States in the future will be sourced from India. 

Trump also expressed his dissatisfaction with Apple’s move while in the Middle East last week. Reports indicate that Trump and Cook have recently met, although the details of their discussion have not been disclosed. 

This threat to Apple is part of Trump’s increasing pressure on companies that he perceives as evading the burden of import tariffs. 

Previously, over the weekend, Trump also criticized Walmart through a social media post, urging the retail giant to "bear the tariffs" instead of passing them on to consumers. 

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