President Donald Trump has ignited criticism following his announcement of new tariffs on European imports and a proposed 25 per cent levy on iPhones not manufactured in the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared a 50 per cent tariff on goods imported from the European Union set to take effect June 1, 2025.
Accusing the EU of “unfair trade practices”, he said, “The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with.”
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere! They use trade barriers, high VAT taxes, strict corporate penalties, and currency manipulation to put our companies at a disadvantage. We run a trade deficit of over $250bn with them every year — totally unacceptable,” he added.
Trump also targeted Apple, stating, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
The announcements sparked immediate backlash from tech analysts, economists, and social media users alike who warned that such a move could drive the price of an iPhone as high as $3,500.
“Trump’s bullying Apple with a 25% tariff to force iPhone production to the US is reckless and delusional,” wrote @capksharma.
“His tantrum ignores the reality: America lacks the skilled engineers and infrastructure to match Asia’s supply chain. Forcing Apple’s hand won’t bring jobs back — it’ll spike iPhone prices to $3,500, hurt consumers, and tank the economy. Another shortsighted, ego-driven move from a man who’d rather posture than understand global trade,” he added.
@DarrigoMelanie warned, “Manufacturing iPhones in the U.S. could increase prices by 90%, raising the price of an iPhone 16 Pro from $1,199 to approximately $2,278. Apple won’t pay the cost of Trump’s threatened tariffs — consumers will be forced to. That’s how tariffs work, no matter what Trump says.”
@Jhunjhunuwala_ added: “Trump wants $3,500 iPhones made in the U.S. while Apple smartly builds them in India for $799. A 25% tariff on India-made iPhones will still cost 1/3 of a made-in-the-USA iPhone. Trump soon understood that ‘You don’t run a trillion-dollar company on slogans. You run it on supply chains.’ Trump’s iPhone tweet is a clear signal that India-US trade talks aren’t going his way. Looks like the tables are turning, and it might just be the price of his impulsive behaviour earlier this month. When you play tough with Modi, expect the return serve to be twice as sharp.”
Also, @Mainbhiengineer posted. “Don’t worry, Trump; many in India are already fighting to impose their local language on people coming from outside. There’s a high chance that soon Apple will decide to quit iPhone manufacturing in India and move to the US.”
@Cloudwatch199 criticised Trump’s decision, saying, “A U.S.-made iPhone would cost $3,500. President Trump is putting his ego ahead of the country’s interests. He’s doing this simply because India didn’t give him credit for the war effort. Disappointing. Petty politics should never come at the cost of economic reality.”
“iPhones made in the USA will cost $3000 now. Apple is not that foolish. Trump will remain in power for 3 years only,” @ShubhamQuest stated.
@DivesTech analysed the situation, saying, “The pressure from Trump on Apple to build iPhone production in the US, as we have discussed, would result in an iPhone price point that is a non-starter for Cupertino and translate into iPhone prices of ~$3,500 if it was made in the US — which is not realistic in our view.”
While Trump has framed the tariffs as a move to protect American industry and jobs, critics argue that the economic fallout could hurt consumers and destabilise international trade relations, with retaliation likely from both the EU and India.
