US President Donald Trump claims America can manufacture iPhones like China, but experts say this is impossible due to complex global supply chains and labor shortages. The US tariffs on Chinese goods could lead to price increases for iPhone buyers, making it difficult for consumers to afford the expensive devices.
Experts warn that implementing domestic manufacturing would be costly, time-consuming, and prone to quality control issues. Apple has tried diversifying production in India but faces challenges due to infrastructure hiccups, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles. China has responded with its own tariffs on American goods, making it harder for Apple to disentangle itself from the country’s manufacturing system.
The Trump administration’s approach is seen as overly simplistic, ignoring the complexity of global electronics production. Analysts predict that tariffs could increase iPhone prices by up to $1,500 or more, depending on the model and tariff rate.
As the US-China trade war escalates, Apple will be cautious about taking drastic action to shift manufacturing to the US. Experts say it’s unlikely the company would make such a move even if it meant passing costs onto consumers. The complexity of global supply chains and labor shortages makes it a gross oversimplification to claim America can manufacture iPhones like China.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/09/iphones_manufacture_unlikely_in_us