By Emmanuel Dominic 
Apple: Make iPhones in US or Face 25% Tariff, Trump Says
On May 23, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on Apple products, specifically targeting iPhones not manufactured in the United States. This declaration, made via his Truth Social platform, emphasized his expectation that iPhones sold in the U.S. should be produced domestically, rather than in countries like India. Trump stated, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that 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”.
Apple has been gradually shifting its iPhone production to India, aiming to manufacture most U.S.-bound phones there by 2026. This move is part of Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain and mitigate risks associated with U.S.-China trade tensions .
Industry analysts warn that relocating iPhone production to the U.S. could significantly increase costs. Estimates suggest that domestically produced iPhones could cost up to $3,500 per unit, compared to the current average price of around $1,000. Such a shift would require substantial investment and time, with projections indicating that transitioning even 10% of Apple’s supply chain to the U.S. could cost $30 billion and take approximately three years .
Following Trump’s announcement, Apple Inc.’s stock experienced a decline. As of the latest trading session on May 23, 2025, Apple’s stock price stood at $195.98, reflecting a decrease of $5.38 (-2.67%) from the previous close. The stock reached an intraday high of $202.00 and a low of $193.30, with a trading volume of approximately 41.6 million shares. Apple’s market capitalization is currently valued at $3.28 trillion.
This development is part of a broader trade policy stance by Trump, who also threatened a 50% tariff on all imports from the European Union, citing stalled trade negotiations
