Trump says a 25%+ tariff “must be paid by Apple” on iPhones not made in the US, and he told Tim Cook long ago that iPhones sold in the US must be made in the US

President Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday morning that Apple will have to pay a tariff of 25% …

CNBC 2025-05-23 Jesse Pound

Context & Ripple Effects

The Apple-specific tariff demand follows broader tariff announcements that included Vietnam and India, countries where Apple had been moving production from China; that earlier move was already associated with a sharp drop in Apple shares after the broader tariff announcement.

The demand raises the stakes from managing country-level import exposure to meeting a US-production condition for iPhones sold in the US. It also sits alongside the administration's stated plan for tariffs of 25% or higher on semiconductors, making Apple’s hardware supply chain a focal point of trade policy.

First-order effects

Apple faces immediate pressure to assess the cost and feasibility of supplying the US iPhone market with domestically made devices rather than relying on its existing overseas production base.
The stated 25%+ charge would put Apple directly at risk of higher import costs on US-bound iPhones that do not meet the proposed manufacturing condition.

Second-order effects

Production shifts to India and Vietnam may reduce China-specific exposure but do not satisfy a US-made requirement, forcing Apple to weigh further supply-chain changes, absorption of costs, or higher US pricing.
Apple’s suppliers would face greater pressure to demonstrate US manufacturing capacity if they want to retain work tied to iPhones sold in the US.

Third-order effects

If this approach is applied beyond a single public demand, electronics supply chains could move from diversification across low-cost countries toward market-specific production designed to qualify for tariff treatment.
The episode points to trade policy being used not only to tax imports but to steer location decisions by major technology companies; whether that produces durable US assembly depends on the policy becoming enforceable and sustained.

The trend: This is part of a shift toward using tariffs and exemptions to influence where strategic consumer technology is manufactured, not merely where it is imported from.

Discussion

@petertl Peter Thal Larsen on bluesky
Looking forward to hearing how these latest salvos fit into Scott Bessent's master plan of using tariffs to isolate China. — www.reuters.com/business/app...
@timeforchange Myra on bluesky
As my dear old brother in law would say “you wouldn't let it lie”. In other words move on. The threatening bully stance is such an old look. — www.bbc.com/news/article...
@mrsdeborahlynn Deborah Lynn on bluesky
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/t... Trump said in a social media post Friday morning that Apple will have to pay a tariff of 25% or more for iPhones made outside the US. — Estimated cost of a US manufactured iPhone is $3,500. The iPhone 16 Pro currently retails for about $1,000.
@cafechatnoir@mastodon.social @cafechatnoir@mastodon.social on mastodon
I truly don't know what the fuck is wrong with this man, but Trump woke up screaming tariffs again this morning. — #USPolitics — https://www.bbc.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Reminder: Anyone who says what a U.S. made iPhone would cost is making it up. Nobody knows.
@atrupar Aaron Rupar on x
Chairman Mao announces that he's increasing the price of iPhones [image]
@pitdesi Sheel Mohnot on x
Are we creating new rules just for Apple?? Why did we change the rules that were created a few weeks ago and the agreement we have with India? Stock is down 3% this morning, down 21% YTD
@pkafka Peter Kafka on x
Reminder: No matter what Trump posts, iPhones aren't going to be made in the US - or anywhere that isn't China.
@rolfewinkler Rolfe Winkler on x
Apple currently faces a 20% tariff out of China and 0% out of India, per Wamsi Mohan at BofA.
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
There are bad weeks, and then there are BAD weeks. [image]
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
Trump has just threatened Apple with a 25% tariff on iPhones unless it moves production to the US. The threat comes a week after Trump declared that he'd “had a little problem with Tim Cook” 😬 https://www.theverge.com/...
r/Economics r on reddit
Trump threatens 50% tariffs on EU and 25% on iPhones
r/politics r on reddit
Trump says a 25% tariff ‘must be paid by Apple’ on iPhones not made in the U.S.
r/facepalm r on reddit
Trump threatens tariffs on Apple iPhones and EU products
r/technology r on reddit
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r/iphone r on reddit
25% Tariff on iPhones not made in the US
r/apple r on reddit
Trump warns Apple of 25% tariffs if iPhones not made in US
r/WallStreetbetsELITE r on reddit
Trump says a 25% tariff ‘must be paid by Apple’ on iPhones not made in the U.S.
r/centrist r on reddit
Trump says a 25% tariff ‘must be paid by Apple’ on iPhones not made in the U.S.
r/iphone r on reddit
Trump warns Apple of 25% tariffs if iPhones not made in US
r/politics r on reddit
Trump warns Apple of 25% tariffs if iPhones not made in US
r/LeopardsAteMyFace r on reddit
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r/apple r on reddit
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r/ukpolitics r on reddit
Trump threatens tariffs on Apple iPhones and EU products
r/DailyTechNewsShow r on reddit
Trump says a 25% tariff ‘must be paid by Apple’ on iPhones not made in the U.S.

Chronicles