Manufacturing an iPhone in the US could be extremely costly due to a lack of skilled workforce and infrastructure. Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that China’s shift from being a low-labor cost country has led to a significant gap in skills. The main challenge lies in the scarcity of precision tooling engineers, a profession requiring both artisanal craftsmanship and state-of-the-art engineering.
The development of these skills is largely attributed to China, which has dominated the US market for decades. However, if Apple were to start building these capabilities within the US, it would take at least a generation to reach the required scale. This would result in significant production cuts, increased costs, and potential damage to the ecosystem.
The ongoing trade tensions between the US and China have already led to an increase in import costs for auto manufacturers. If Apple were to manufacture iPhones domestically, it could exacerbate this issue and show the impact of protectionist policies on businesses and workers.
Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology/an-iphone-will-cost-this-much-if-apple-manufactured-in-the-us/3802015