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Navarro Intensifies Criticism of Apple’s China Production as Tariffs Loom

His comments frame Apple’s production delays as a test for the administration’s planned 10%–40% import tariffs

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Overview

  • Peter Navarro publicly chastised Tim Cook for repeatedly delaying the relocation of iPhone manufacturing from China, calling it Silicon Valley’s “longest-running soap opera.”
  • The Trump administration is preparing new import duties ranging from 10% to 40% on goods from key manufacturing countries after ending a 90-day tariff pause.
  • Apple has expanded iPhone assembly in India and Vietnam to diversify its supply chain but continues to rely heavily on Chinese factories.
  • Apple’s February pledge to invest $500 billion in U.S. projects, including AI server assembly, stands in contrast to its limited onshore smartphone production.
  • Industry analysts warn that fully reshoring iPhone manufacturing to the U.S. remains impractical and could drive per-unit costs as high as $3,500.