White House insists iPhones will be US-made – but Apple calls it a non-starter
GuardianAPR 12
Trump Asks Apple to Shelve India iPhone Production Plans
Above: Tim Cook and Donald Trump during an American Workforce Policy Advisory board meeting in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2019. Image copyright: Al Drago/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Moving iPhone production to India will threaten American manufacturing jobs and economic interests. The $500 billion investment promised for U.S. facilities should be expanded to include complete iPhone manufacturing capabilities. Companies benefiting from the American market should prioritize domestic production despite trade tensions to support American workers and reduce dependence on foreign nations.
Anti-Trump narrative
Shifting iPhone production to the U.S. is economically unfeasible and would severely impact consumer affordability. The complex global supply chain, established workforce expertise, and significantly lower production costs in countries like India and China make domestic manufacturing impractical. A U.S.-made iPhone would require complete supply chain reconstruction, resulting in prohibitively expensive devices. Such complexities can't be overcome by Trump's impulsive whims alone.