President Trump on Friday expanded his tariff threat against Apple to include Samsung and other smartphone companies as he pushes for the device-makers to move manufacturing to the U.S.
Asked in the Oval Office whether he has the power to tariff a single company, Trump said “it would be more” than just Apple.
“It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair,” Trump told reporters after signing executive orders.
The tariffs will start at the end of June, the president added.
Trump has taken aim in recent weeks at Apple CEO Tim Cook over the iPhone maker’s moves to manufacture in India. Ahead of his Friday Oval Office appearance, Trump called out Cook on Truth Social, saying he wants iPhones sold in the U.S. to be manufactured in the country.
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.,” Trump wrote Friday morning.
Apple produces several of its products in China but has sought to diversify its supply chain amid Trump’s trade battle with Beijing.
The company announced in February it plans to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. and hire more than 20,000 people over the next few years.
“Again, when they build their plant here, there’s no tariff, so they’re going to be building plants here,” Trump said of phone-makers on Friday.
“But I had an understanding with Tim that he wouldn’t be doing this. He said he’s going to India to build plants. I said, ‘That’s OK to go to India, but you’re not going to sell India without tariffs.’ And that’s the way it is.”
Trump signaled he’s confident that Apple can build in the U.S. at a price that works for American consumers, pointing to the company’s investment plans.
“The iPhone, if they’re going to sell it in America I want it to be built in the United States,” he said.
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