Tensions between the US administration and Apple have escalated several notches following Donald Trump's announcement this Friday. The president issued a clear warning to the technology company: if iPhones sold in the United States are not entirely manufactured in the country, Apple will face a 25% tariff on imports of these devices. This statement had an immediate impact on the markets, with significant drops in the company's stock value at the opening of Wall Street.
Apple's strategy and the reasons for the pressure
Trump has reiterated his position on social media, stating that he had long communicated to Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, his desire that iPhones destined for the US market be assembled within the country and not in countries like India or China. The president has stated that, if this is not the case, a tax will be imposed forcefully, which would significantly increase the final price of the product in the United States.
Apple has relied on China for iPhone manufacturing for years, although recently, due to the trade war between the two countries, it has sought alternatives by moving part of its production to India. This strategy was aimed at reduce risks arising from trade tensions and diversify the supply chain in the face of constant changes in international politics.
The Cupertino company had predicted that most iPhones sold in the United States came from factories in India at the end of next year to minimize the impact of potential sanctions against Chinese products. Despite these moves, Trump's new threat complicates Apple's plans, which is under pressure to focus on fully American manufacturing.
Impact on markets and business reaction
The announcement of the tariffs has generated a immediate reaction in the financial markets. Apple shares experienced a collapse of up to 4% In pre-market trading, technology futures contracts, especially those on the Nasdaq 100, fell to session lows after the president's remarks.
Official responses from Apple management on this matter have been limited so far, although the company has reaffirmed its intention to increase hiring and investment in the United States. Tim Cook has already announced a $500.000 billion investment plan. over the next four years on US soil, which includes the opening of new factories and the creation of jobs, mostly linked to R&D.
Complexity of manufacturing iPhones in the United States
Manufacturing the iPhone entirely in the United States is presented as a a complex task even for Apple. Various analysts highlight the lack of specialized labor and a network of local suppliers capable of handling large-scale production of these types of devices. Currently, Approximately 90% of iPhones are assembled in China and Apple needs an industrial infrastructure that is difficult to replicate in the short term within the United States.
Moving production from China or India to the United States would mean a significant increase in costs for both the company and the consumer, which would translate into a higher price for the final product. Furthermore, recent changes in US trade policy have added further uncertainty to the technology sector, leading many multinationals to anticipate a forced adaptation scenario.
An unprecedented case: tariff targeting a specific company
The peculiarity of this measure lies in the fact that the 25% tariff is specifically targeted at Apple and the iPhone., without being a general sanction on all products from a specific nation. This is an unusual move in trade policy, as it seeks to directly pressure a company to change its overall production strategy.
Trump has also singled out other tech giants in its goal of repatriating jobs and promoting domestic production. However, Apple is at the center of controversy because it is one of the industry's leading manufacturers and has its main assembly process outside the United States.