Trump to impose 25% tariff on Apple iPhones if they are not made in USA

New Delhi (India) May 24: US President Donald Trump has issued a warning that if cellphones are not created in the US, they may soon be subject to a 25% import tariff. This includes Samsung devices and Apple's iPhone.

Trump's threat is a part of his larger plan to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States. However, it is still unclear if such a tariff could actually be imposed.

Trump on his Truth Social platform called out the Apple CEO and said that, "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.”

"If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US Thank your for your attention to this matter!”

The threat comes after Trump and Cook recently met. A White House official said that Trump opposed Apple's intentions to move more iPhone manufacturing from China to India.

Apple has increased production in India with the goal of producing about 25% of the world's iPhones there in the coming years. This would help the company reduce its reliance on China, where 90% of its top devices are currently assembled.

Donald Trump criticized Apple last week for expanding its manufacturing operations in India. Trump claimed to have a "small issue" with the CEO of Apple about the company's choice to expand production outside of the US.

Trump said, “He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”

Several large corporations, including automakers, pharmaceutical industries, and chip manufacturers, have been targeted by Trump's campaign to return production to the United States.

Aadrika Tayal