Amid the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China, companies such as Apple have been exploring options to evade the steep tariffs enforced by President Trump on imports. A recent report indicated that Apple intended to enhance its assembly operations in Brazil, and the company has already begun assembling the new iPhone 16e there.
iPhone 16e Now Assembled in Brazil
According to MacMagazine, Apple initiated assembly of the iPhone 16e in Brazil from the very start. While iPhones have been assembled in Brazil for an extended period, Apple traditionally delayed local production of new models for a few months. It appears this practice has now changed.
Consumers who purchased the iPhone 16e in Brazil noticed the label “Assembled in Brazil – Brazilian Industry” on the packaging. This information is further corroborated by Apple on its Brazilian online marketplace, where the URL for the iPhone 16e indicates a model number ending in “BR/A,” denoting products assembled in Brazil. In contrast, iPhones brought in from abroad carry the “BE/A” label.
Documents from Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory authority, validate that the iPhone 16e is assembled in Brazil, China, and India. The price for an iPhone 16e in Brazil is approximately $890, but it can already be found for $670 at various retailers, likely because of tariff exemptions associated with local assembly. In the United States, the phone starts at $600.
A recent report suggests that Apple is contemplating increasing the production capacity of its Brazilian facilities in collaboration with Foxconn to circumvent US import tariffs on iPhones. While the US government has introduced certain exemptions to Trump’s new tariffs, a recent White House document indicated that China could face tariffs as high as 245% from the US. In response, China has also implemented its own tariff increases on US goods.
In contrast, Brazilian products are subjected to only a 10% tariff, leading Apple to believe it can import iPhones from Brazil rather than from China. Reports indicate that Apple had previously dispatched several planes loaded with iPhones and other products from India and China before the tariffs were enacted.
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