The White House / Flickr (Left), momolelouch - stock.adobe.com (Right)
President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on both Apple and the European Union Friday, signaling a renewed push for domestic manufacturing and tougher trade terms.
In two separate Truth Social posts, Trump said Apple may face a 25% tariff on all iPhones manufactured outside the US, and called for a 50% tariff on goods imported from the EU, citing continued trade imbalances and unproductive negotiations.
“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,” Trump wrote Friday morning. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
Apple shares dropped roughly 2.5% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Apple has traditionally manufactured most of its iPhones in China but has been steadily shifting production to India. Earlier this month, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the majority of iPhones sold in the US this quarter will come from India, while other Apple devices will be imported from Vietnam. Trump met privately with Cook Tuesday, according to Politico.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking Friday on Fox News, said the administration is focused on rebuilding America’s high-tech manufacturing base.
“A large part of Apple’s components are in semiconductors,” Bessent said. “So we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure.”
Meanwhile, Trump renewed criticism of the EU’s “difficult” trade practices, accusing the bloc of imposing unfair barriers and penalties on US companies. He proposed a blanket 50% tariff on all EU imports starting June 1.
“The European Union… has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year…. Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” he wrote. “Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.”
The new threat comes after a Sunday meeting between Vice President JD Vance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
“Europe is an important ally of the United States… but, of course, we have some disagreements, as friends sometimes do, on issues like trade,” Vance said, according to Reuters.
Von der Leyen later posted on X: “Indeed, we found a lot of common ground, which is natural for strong partners like us. On trade, we both want a good deal that delivers for people and business on both sides of the Atlantic. Our teams are working around the clock to find solutions. We’re confident that we will get there.”
Last month, Trump temporarily suspended select tariffs originally imposed under his “Liberation Day Tariffs,” offering a 90-day reprieve to several countries, including the EU. The 90-day suspension is set to end July 8.
In response, the EU agreed to pause its planned retaliatory tariffs on American goods for the same 90-day period. However, Trump warned at the time that if no agreement was reached, a 25% tariff would go into effect.
