Apple is reportedly exploring the option of importing more iPhones from India in an effort to avoid the newly implemented 54% additional tariffs on goods imported from China, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump the previous week. This information, sourced from anonymous contacts, was reported by the Wall Street Journal.
According to the report, this move is considered a temporary strategy by the company, which aims to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration to seek an exemption from these tariffs. Apple is currently not inclined to overhaul its supply chain, which is heavily based in China.
In comparison to the recently imposed 54% tariffs on Chinese-manufactured goods, the U.S. has suggested a 26% tariff on products imported from India. If these tariffs are not reduced and Apple continues sourcing iPhones from China, the cost of importing an iPhone 16 Pro, which was previously $550, could increase by an additional $300 due to the new tariffs.
The Wall Street Journal also cited Wamsi Mohan, a Bank of America analyst, who stated that Apple was projected to produce 25 million iPhones in India this year, with 10 million units earmarked for the domestic market. Mohan noted that should Apple choose to import all 25 million iPhones to the United States, this supply would meet about 50% of the demand in the U.S. market.
