U.S. President Donald Trump announced a proposed 25% tariff on all smartphones not manufactured in the United States, including Apple and Samsung products.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized that the tariffs would apply broadly to smartphones imported into the U.S. market. Samsung, the second-largest smartphone vendor in the U.S., produces about 60% of its 220 million annual global shipments in Vietnam, many destined for American consumers.
Earlier in the day, Trump criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook, stating that iPhones sold in the U.S. should be made domestically rather than in India or other countries, warning that products made abroad would face the tariff. This marks a reversal from Trump’s April decision to exclude electronics, including iPhones, from tariffs on Chinese imports, a move initially seen as a relief for companies like Apple.
Apple has committed to producing AI servers in Houston and buying $19 billion in U.S.-made chips, but Trump remains concerned about the continued overseas assembly of iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The president also reportedly expressed frustration during a recent Middle East visit over Apple’s expanding production in India.
Apple has been shifting some manufacturing out of China to India and Vietnam due to rising costs and geopolitical factors. However, experts highlight significant challenges in relocating full-scale production to the U.S., including the need for a skilled labor force and a complex supply chain established in Asia.
Analysts estimate that by the end of 2025, about 25% of iPhones will be produced in India.
