The extensive 104% tariffs imposed by Trump on China are scheduled to take effect at midnight, a decision that will significantly affect Apple and its supply chain. In anticipation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated today that Trump is confident Apple can relocate iPhone production to the United States.
When asked by Maggie Haberman of The New York Times about the workforce Trump aims to bolster in the U.S. through these tariffs, Leavitt remarked:
“The president is focused on increasing manufacturing jobs in America, while also exploring opportunities in advanced technologies. AI and other emerging areas are critical for the U.S. to maintain its leadership position globally. The job landscape is diverse, covering both traditional manufacturing and cutting-edge tech roles. The president wants these jobs to return to our shores.”
Haberman then inquired specifically about the prospect of relocating iPhone manufacturing, asking if Trump sees this technology as something that could come to the U.S. Leavitt replied:
“[Trump] is confident that we have the labor force, the workforce, and the necessary resources to make it happen. As you might know, Apple has committed $500 billion to investments in the United States. If Apple didn’t believe in our ability to handle this, they likely wouldn’t have invested such a significant amount.”
Leavitt was referring to Apple’s February announcement indicating plans to invest over $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. However, this commitment did not specifically mention iPhone assembly in the U.S.; the focus was on research and development, chip manufacturing in Arizona, AI server production in Houston, Apple TV+ content creation, and an educational academy in Michigan.
As noted yesterday, Apple has been accumulating iPhone stock in the United States in preparation for Trump’s tariffs. This strategy should help the company mitigate the effects of the tariffs and prevent price hikes for the time being. We’re still awaiting an official statement from Apple regarding its future plans.
Also worth checking out today is an article from 404 Media, which explains why the idea of a U.S.-made iPhone is considered “pure fantasy.”
