"Warned Tim Cook long ago"... Tariff Pressure on Samsung Too
iPhone Manufacturing Threats Lead to 2.58% Drop in Stock Price
US President Donald Trump has once again warned that Apple’s iPhones could face tariffs of up to 25% if they are not manufactured within the United States. He also stated that the same measure would be applied to other companies such as Samsung, heightening tension across the industry.
On May 23 (local time), President Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, saying, "I told Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, a long time ago that I want iPhones sold in the United States to be manufactured in the United States, not in India or any other country." He added, "If not, Apple will have to pay at least a 25% tariff."
US President Donald Trump has once again warned that Apple’s iPhones could face tariffs of up to 25% if they are not manufactured within the United States. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
In addition, when asked by reporters at the White House whether tariffs could be imposed only on Apple, President Trump replied, "There are others as well," and said, "The same applies to Samsung and all companies that make those products (smartphones)." He emphasized, "Otherwise, it would not be fair," indicating that Samsung Electronics would also be subject to tariff pressure.
Trump stated, "Anyone who makes those products will be subject to the same tariffs," adding, "Everything will be ready by the end of June." These remarks once again underscore his commitment to fostering domestic manufacturing, and are expected to put direct pressure on the production strategies of global companies.
Currently, Apple produces most of its iPhones in China and has recently been diversifying its manufacturing base to India due to escalating US-China trade tensions. President Trump’s comments publicly pressured Apple to expand its production facilities within the United States.
If iPhones are manufactured in the United States, consumer prices are likely to surge. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, analyzed that if iPhones are produced in the US, prices could rise to around $3,500. This is 3.5 times higher than the current price of the iPhone 16 Pro model, which is about $1,000.
Following the announcement, Apple’s stock price plunged. On the New York Stock Exchange, Apple shares closed at $196.17, down 2.58% from the previous trading day, and at one point during the session fell to $193.46, marking the lowest level this month.
In its earnings announcement on May 1, Apple stated that "an additional cost of about $900 million could arise due to tariffs in the upcoming quarter (April to June)," and CEO Tim Cook said, "It is difficult to predict the tariff outlook after June."
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