Smartphone prices to jump soon? All you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a 25 per cent tariff he says he will impose on Apple will also apply to Samsung and other smartphone makers. Trump, talking to reporters in the Oval Office, also said he was fine with leaving a 50 per cent tariff in place on the European Union absent a trade deal.

While Apple designs its products in the United States, most iPhone assembly occurs in China, which remains embroiled in a trade war with the US. Apple has announced plans to shift some production to other countries, including India, but Trump said this would not satisfy his demands.

In a post on Truth Social earlier Friday, Trump wrote that he had "long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones 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 percent must be paid by Apple to the US," he added.

Trump's Friday comments echoed statements he made during a trip to Qatar last week, when he urged Apple to bring iPhone production to the United States.

Trump initially said the tariff would apply only to Apple -- an unusual move to single out a specific company in trade policy. However, he later expanded the threat to include all smartphone-makers.

"It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump told reporters in Washington, adding that the new tariffs would take effect by the "end of June."

FAQs

Q1. Who is President of USA?
A1. President of USA is Donald Trump.

Q2. What is percentage of tariffs that Donald Trump wants to impose of Apple?
A2. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a 25 per cent tariff he says he will impose on Apple will also apply to Samsung and other smartphone makers.