Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expanded his initial threat against Apple to include all smartphone manufacturers selling devices in the United States that are not produced domestically. "It would be more. It would also be Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump said. He indicated the smartphone tariffs would begin "at the end of June."
The president emphasized that companies could avoid tariffs by manufacturing in the United States. "When they build their plant here, there's no tariff," Trump told reporters. He claimed to have reached an understanding with Apple CEO Tim Cook that the company would not continue iPhone production overseas, though Apple declined to comment.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration views overseas production, particularly in semiconductors, as a national security vulnerability. "I think that one of our greatest vulnerabilities is this external production, especially in semiconductors," Bessent told Fox News. "And a large part of Apple's components are in semiconductors. So we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure."
Trump also announced via Truth Social his intention to impose a 50 percent tariff on European Union goods, citing stalled trade negotiations. "Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50 percent Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025," Trump wrote. When asked by reporters if he was seeking negotiations with the EU, Trump replied: "I'm not looking for a deal. We've set the deal – it's at 50 percent."
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Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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