President Trump said Apple will have to pay a tariff of at least 25% on iPhones sold in the USA unless they are made in the USA, CNBC reported on May 23, 2025.
What Trump said
- In a Truth Social post, Trump said he had told Tim Cook he expects iPhones sold in the USA to be “manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.”
- Later that day, he told reporters the tariff would also apply to other smartphone makers such as Samsung and would start at the end of June.
- Apple shares fell 3%. Apple declined to comment.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration wanted Apple to help make the semiconductor supply chain more secure.
- CNBC noted the legal mechanism for a tariff on one company’s product was unclear.
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
President Trump, on Truth Social
Why it matters for Made in USA
This was the most direct push yet to bring smartphone assembly to the USA. Apple’s response came later, through component and supply chain commitments rather than USA iPhone assembly. Related: Apple’s plan to source 19 billion USA-made chips and its $600 billion USA program.
FAQ
What did Trump threaten?
A tariff of at least 25% on iPhones sold in the USA that are not made in the USA.
Did it apply to other companies?
Trump said it would also apply to Samsung and other smartphone makers.
Where are most iPhones for the USA made?
Apple had said most would come from India.
Source & credit
Source: CNBC, May 23, 2025: “Trump says Apple must pay a 25% tariff on iPhones not made in the U.S.”, by Jesse Pound.