US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on all smartphones not manufactured in the United States. The decision could take effect at the end of June.
On May 23, Trump already demanded that Apple move iPhone production to the US, threatening to impose a 25% tariff. However, now, as Bloomberg reports, it is not only Apple that is being targeted, but also Samsung, Google and other smartphone manufacturers that sell their products in the US.
The president stressed to the press that this is necessary for fairness, as restrictions cannot apply to just one brand. Samsung and Google have not yet commented on this information.
Experts believe that moving smartphone production to the US is economically unprofitable. Most companies have extensive production chains in Asia and changing the location would require significant costs.
The move is part of Trump's broader policy on tariff restrictions. Electronics, including smartphones, were previously exempted from a 125% tariff on Chinese goods, but with the promise that they would be subject to "semiconductor sectoral tariffs" in the future. The new rules could be part of that initiative.