Efforts to move iPhone manufacturing to the United States are facing major roadblocks—both legal and technological. As the U.S. government intensifies its push to bring tech production back home, the feasibility of assembling devices like Apple’s iPhone domestically is being called into question.
President Trump recently proposed a 25% tariff on smartphones not manufactured within the U.S.—a move aimed squarely at Apple, among others. “If you want to sell in America, you build in America,” Trump stated, emphasizing that similar duties would apply to other brands, including Samsung. The tariffs are expected to take effect by the end of June.
However, Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly communicated that iPhone assembly at scale within the U.S. remains impractical without major advancements in robotics. According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Cook highlighted the need for highly precise automation to handle minute components—like the countless tiny screws found in each device. Until robotic technology can meet Apple’s manufacturing standards, large-scale domestic production may be unrealistic.
Trump’s administration may invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to fast-track these tariffs. This controversial law allows the president to impose economic actions during a declared national emergency. While legal experts caution that company-specific tariffs lack clear statutory support, the administration may argue that national economic threats justify the move.
Some legal scholars believe this tactic gives the president wide latitude to impose tariffs with minimal judicial oversight, as courts have limited authority to challenge presidential actions under a declared emergency.
Yet critics warn that targeting Apple alone could inadvertently benefit competitors, undermining the administration’s broader reshoring goals. “You can’t create a level playing field by tipping it,” said Sally Stewart Laing, a Washington-based trade attorney.
Even if Apple were to commit to U.S.-based assembly, analysts predict it would take years to build the infrastructure. In a recent report, Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives suggested it could take up to a decade to fully relocate Apple’s supply chain—and that U.S.-made iPhones could cost up to $3,500 each, nearly triple their current price.
In the meantime, any tariff on iPhones would likely ripple through the tech ecosystem, disrupting logistics and increasing costs for American consumers. Columbia University economics professor Brett House warned that the added burden on Apple’s supply chain and financing could make devices significantly more expensive without creating meaningful domestic manufacturing jobs in the short term.
Bottom line? The dream of assembling iPhones on American soil remains distant. Without transformative changes in technology and trade law, the vision of “Made in the USA” smartphones may remain more political theater than production reality.
