Trump would also impose tariffs on Apple

The Trump administration’s latest move to pressure Apple into reshoring iPhone production to the United States faces significant legal, logistical, and economic barriers — not least of which are the infamous “little, little screws.”

On Friday, former President Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on any iPhones sold but not manufactured in the U.S., a move he said would also apply to Samsung and other smartphone makers. Trump emphasized the tariffs could be enforced as soon as the end of June, citing what he described as an unfair advantage for foreign-made devices.

“I had an understanding with Tim [Cook] that he wouldn’t be doing this,” Trump told reporters, referencing Apple’s plans to expand manufacturing in India. “You’re not going to sell into here without tariffs.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick highlighted a key challenge to shifting iPhone production to the U.S.: the precise assembly work done by millions of human hands overseas. While automation might eventually bridge this gap, Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly told Lutnick the necessary robotic technology simply isn’t available yet.

“He said, I need robotic arms to do it at scale and precision,” Lutnick noted. “And the day I see that available, it’s coming here.”

Legal Gray Areas and Economic Consequences

While tariffs targeting a single company like Apple lack clear legal authorization, trade law experts believe the Trump administration might attempt to leverage emergency economic powers. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allows the president to take economic action after declaring an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to the U.S.

“There’s no clear legal authority for company-specific tariffs,” said Sally Stewart Laing, partner at Akin Gump. “But the Trump administration may try to shoehorn it under its emergency powers.”

However, such a move risks undercutting Trump’s broader goal of encouraging domestic manufacturing by granting a competitive edge to other importers, like Samsung. If the administration wins a pending legal case challenging earlier emergency-based tariffs, experts say Trump would face few obstacles in imposing similar duties on Apple.

Would U.S.-Made iPhones Even Make Sense?

The economic feasibility of manufacturing iPhones in America remains doubtful. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, estimates that U.S.-made iPhones could cost up to $3,500 each — nearly triple the current top-tier model’s $1,200 price tag. “We believe the concept of Apple producing iPhones in the U.S. is a fairy tale that is not feasible,” Ives stated.

Even without a full production shift, a 25% tariff would strain Apple’s complex global supply chain, drive up prices for U.S. consumers, and disrupt financing structures, noted Columbia University economist Brett House. “None of this is positive for American consumers,” House added.

(Our picture is an illustration.)