WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump repeated his insistence that Apple manufacture iPhones in the U.S. or face 25% tariffs, a threat to boost the taxes on the tech giant’s imports that are already projected to cost the company $900 million during April, May and June.
Trump’s message May 23 blasted Apple’s production of more than half its phones in India, as Apple CEO Tim Cook said on a recent earnings call to avoid higher tariffs on products from China. Vietnam will be the “country of origin” of “almost all” iPads, Macs, Apple watches and AirPods, Cook said.
Cook said during that May 1 call that tariffs are projected to add $900 million to company’s costs during the current quarter. But Trump threatened to directly target the phones built in any country, as manufacturing shifted from China to India.
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“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” Trump said on social media May 23. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
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Trump has made tariffs on imports a centerpiece of his economic agenda. His goal is to raise billions of dollars in tariffs on imports and to encourage manufacturers to make products in the U.S.
Cook announced plans in February for Apple to invest $500 billion in the U.S. and create 20,000 jobs during the next four years. The announcement was part of what Trump has boasted will be trillions of dollars in investment to avoid tariffs.
Trump’s repeated a common theme. He chided Cook on May 15 during a trip to the Middle East for moving iPhone production from China to India rather than the U.S.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump threatens bite of Apple with 25% tariffs on iPhones
