President Trump is continuing to wield tariffs as a club to try to force American companies to manufacture their products in the United States. On Friday morning, the president warned Apple that the government would impose a tariff of “at least 25%” on iPhones manufactured overseas.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s [sic] 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 in the post. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter!”
Industry analysts say it’s virtually impossible that Apple or any other consumer electronics company could make their products in the U.S. anytime soon, if ever. Shares of Apple dropped more than 3% in premarket trading after Trump’s post.