Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions by vowing to impose steep tariffs on smartphones made outside the United States, specifically targeting industry giants Apple and Samsung. Speaking at a campaign rally in Michigan on Friday, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee threatened a 25% tariff on all Apple and Samsung phones not assembled in the US, and a 50% tariff on devices manufactured in the European Union.
The proposed tariffs, if enacted, would represent a dramatic escalation in Trump’s America First trade agenda and could have sweeping consequences for the global tech industry, supply chains, and consumer prices. Apple, which assembles the vast majority of its iPhones in China and India, would face sharp cost increases unless production is localised. Samsung, headquartered in South Korea, similarly manufactures most of its devices in Asia, with only limited US-based production.
Trump framed the tariff threats as a means of repatriating American jobs and pressuring multinationals to invest in domestic manufacturing. “If Apple wants to sell phones here, they can build them here,” he declared, adding that the same principle would apply to Samsung and European phone makers.
Markets responded with caution. Shares in Apple fell nearly 3% in after-hours trading following the remarks, while Samsung’s shares slipped on Monday morning in Seoul. Analysts warned that the proposals, though not yet formal policy, could disrupt global electronics markets and raise costs for US consumers if implemented.
The European Union quickly responded with a warning of reciprocal action. A spokesperson for the European Commission stated, “Unilateral trade measures that breach WTO rules will be met with proportionate responses to protect European industry.” The EU had already been bracing for a potential flare-up in trade tensions, with Trump signalling a more protectionist stance should he return to the White House.
Apple declined to comment directly on Trump’s threat but reiterated its commitment to investing in the US, highlighting a planned $430 billion five-year investment strategy announced in 2021. The company has already begun limited iPhone assembly in Texas, but the scale remains small compared to its production volumes in Asia.
Samsung has invested in chip and display manufacturing in Texas but assembles most smartphones in Vietnam, India, and South Korea. Industry experts note that shifting entire phone production lines to the US would be costly and time-consuming, requiring significant infrastructure development and workforce training.
Tech trade associations criticised the tariff threats as disruptive and counterproductive. “Tariffs of this magnitude would raise prices for American families and damage competitiveness,” said the Consumer Technology Association. “Global supply chains cannot be rerouted overnight.”
The announcement adds a fresh layer of uncertainty for multinational firms ahead of the US presidential election. While Trump’s rhetoric is seen as red meat for his political base, many remain sceptical about the practicality of such measures or whether they would survive legal and institutional hurdles.
Still, Trump’s renewed trade threats mark a clear departure from President Joe Biden’s more measured approach to global commerce, further sharpening the contrast between the two candidates as election season intensifies. Markets and manufacturers alike are now weighing the risk that America’s tech trade policy could be on the verge of a disruptive shift.
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