U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that smartphones not manufactured in the United States, including Apple’s iPhones, could face a 25% import tariff as part of a broader push to bring industrial production back to American soil.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the potential tariff would not apply to companies that establish domestic production. He also noted that the measure would not be limited to Apple (AAPL.O), stating, “It wouldn’t be fair to just apply it to Apple. Samsung, too, would be affected.”
The administration’s remarks come amid heightened trade tensions between the United States and the European Union, as the White House explores new levers to bolster U.S.-based manufacturing. Trump has frequently cited his goal of reducing reliance on overseas production, particularly in the technology and semiconductor sectors.
Legal experts suggest that applying tariffs to specific companies may not be straightforward under existing trade rules. However, some analysts say the president could invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify targeted trade actions, a tactic used in past tariff disputes.
Reuters reports that no formal decision has been made, and the proposal remains under review. The administration has not issued official guidance on which devices or manufacturers might be affected.
The move echoes earlier threats by the Trump administration to impose tariffs on the semiconductor and automotive industries as part of a broader reshoring strategy.
“Trump has used the threat of tariffs before to push companies into building factories at home,” said a Washington-based trade analyst familiar with the matter. “This fits into that pattern, but legal challenges could complicate implementation.”
Apple has not publicly commented on the proposed measure. The company currently assembles most of its iPhones in China through partners such as Foxconn, although it has recently expanded production in India and Vietnam. Samsung, a key rival in the smartphone market, manufactures a portion of its devices in South Korea, Vietnam, and India.
While the tariff remains speculative, the proposal underscores the administration’s renewed emphasis on localizing high-tech manufacturing as part of its wider economic agenda.
