Donald Trump sends message to Apple as he announces 'substantial' chip tariffs
US President Donald Trump's wild tariffs take another new turn as he continues to target semiconductor imports, pledging 'substantial' tariffs in the near future while sending a clear message to Apple.
April 2, 2025 – otherwise known as 'Liberation Day' to Donald Trump – was home to one of the most significant financial decisions in recent years for America, as the president announced worldwide import tariffs effective immediately, even including countries with virtually no residents.
Experts made it clear the destructive impact that this would have on the tech world and other key industries, and it continues to be detrimental months after the decision with new charges being added along the way.
The overall goal of this wild plan was to force the biggest tech companies to move their manufacturing and production to American soil, as behemoths like Apple previously operated almost exclusively in areas like China.
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While a complete shift will take years, many companies have buckled to the pressure of tariffs and invested hundreds of billions of dollars into America — with Apple being one of the biggest so far.
When Tim Cook met President Trump last month, the Apple CEO revealed an additional $100 billion in funding for a domestic manufacturing initiative, which was on top of an existing $500 billion that was pledged in February.
It appears to have served Apple well though, as a recent announcement that further tariffs will be placed on chips and semiconductors has arrived with the caveat that Apple, and other companies that have invested heavily in America, will be exempt, as reported by CNBC.
"I've discussed it with the people here, chips and semiconductors, and we'll be putting tariffs on companies that aren't coming in," proclaimed President Trump during a lavish dinner he hosted for some of the country's top tech leaders.
"We'll be putting a tariff very shortly. You probably are hearing we'll be putting a fairly substantial tariff, or not that high, but a fairly substantial tariff," he continued.
Trump also noted that "Tim Cook would be in pretty good shape" in the wake of these new tariffs, indicating that Apple's pre-existing investment, while hefty, would spare them from forking up significant tariff costs.
As mentioned, it's not just Apple that will be spared these import costs either, as Trump has opened the door for any company that plants its money into American soil.
"If they're coming in, building, planning to come in, there will not be a tariff," the president explained, although the parameters for this investment threshold are unclear, especially if it's seemingly only limited to those invited to a White House dinner.