California Attorney General threatens lawsuit over potential 25% iPhone tariff

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in iPhone edited May 24

In a reaction to newly announced tariffs that initially appeared to target Apple's iPhone, California's Attorney General Rob Bonta said he would consider taking the Trump administration to court.

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Apple plans to reduce its tariff penalty on iPhones by making more of them in India



In his initial announcement, President Trump appeared to be singling out Apple, saying that the company should make all of its iPhones in the US rather than in other countries. He said that Apple would pay a 25 percent tariff on iPhones made in India.

"The statement about Apple is something that is obviously disappointing," Bonta said in a statement first reported by Politico. "It's almost like [Trump] wakes up in the morning and he says, Hey, I think Apple should build more Apple phones, and so maybe I'll tell their CEO that he should do that.' And then maybe tomorrow, he wakes up and he says, Hey, I was just kidding.'"

Bonta has defended Apple, which is based in California and is a major technology employer. He credited Apple as being one of many companies that have helped build the state's economy into the fourth-largest in the world.

"We're proud of California companies, and we want to make sure that their rights are not violated, especially by the president of the United States," said Bonta, "which is not something that you would normally have to protect against."

Bonta said his office would be examining the actual tariff policies for evidence of it targeting California companies like Apple before making any decision about possible lawsuits.

In a possible reaction to criticism of the new penalty Apple might face, the president later clarified that his tariffs would also apply to other device manufacturers, including Samsung.

Apple has, thus far, not commented on the evolving tariff issues. It is among the US companies temporarily exempt from Trump's tariffs in China and elsewhere, thanks in part to a cordial relationship between Apple CEO Tim Cook and the president.

However, Apple does not have manufacturing facilities in the US capable of producing iPhones on that scale. Such an undertaking would taken many years, as evidenced by Apple chip supplier TSMC's five-year effort to get its first US-based manufacturing plant built in Arizona.

During construction, delays in the Arizona plant were blamed by TSMC on a lack of skilled labor. The plan is now operational, but does not yet make chips for the latest iPhones due to Taiwanese restrictions.

The second plant has been delayed, but a third plant is now planned thanks to a federal grant provided by the existing CHIPS Act legislation, which President Trump opposes.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 23
     A tariff has to apply to products or countries it can only single out a particular company if that company is found to be selling a product below market value (i.e. dumping) and this clearly is not the case for Apple.  
    ssfe119secondkox2baconstangbadmonk
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  • Reply 2 of 23
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,362member
    CA AG Bonta better take trump and his corrupt administration to court. People without any idea how and who actually does the real work in the USA are trying to make people believe there's a billion people who could step right in and build small computerized devices. We're seeing farm, restaurant and hotel workers leave their jobs so they don't get illegally deported. Our colleges graduate way too many lawyers and MBAs, people who could never build anything. The USA doesn't need more desk jobs they need to train and pay people who are willing to work with their hands in a trade. China has a laborers workforce of over 400M with a total workforce of over 700M. The USA's total workforce is around 170M and I bet well over half of these are menial desk jobs. China also has every kind of precious metal and natural resource within their borders to make just about anything but especially computer devices. This is why iPhones are made in China. Sure, there are manufacturing facilities in India and other countries with high available labor forces but it's the raw materials that would cost much more in the USA because we don't have everything we need here. The material we have costs way too much because American companies only care about making money for themselves and their stock holders. It would be nice if the trump administration would take a labor job for one week. None of them would last more than 5 minutes before getting kicked out for not being able to do the most menial job. I doubt any of them actually know how to clean their kitchen or bathroom. They undoubtedly have immigrants doing it for them.
    londorssfe11macguinetroxsocalrey9secondkox2ForumPostThatguy2danoxdewme
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  • Reply 3 of 23
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,283member
    A serious politician wouldn't have "xitted" the announcement from his toilet on Lies Social [sic] and wouldn't have mentioned Apple by name but would have instead issued a policy statement that mentioned smartphones in general. But we have a vindictive, self-serving grifter for president.
    edited May 24
    rob53londorssfe11macguinetroxsocalreyiOS_Guy80ForumPostThatguy2danox
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  • Reply 4 of 23
    ramanpfafframanpfaff Posts: 173member
     A tariff has to apply to products or countries it can only single out a particular company if that company is found to be selling a product below market value (i.e. dumping) and this clearly is not the case for Apple.  
    Unfortunately, the President can declare that any specific company or person is a national security risk and do whatever they want. And the current administration is daffy enough to do that. Individual attacks are the specialty of Trump. If Tim can't settle him down Apple is in trouble, and my retirement/existence ends. 

    Moral sanity used to be a thing. Those days are over. 
    williamlondonmacguissfe119secondkox2ForumPostdanoxdewmenubusbaconstang
     5Likes 4Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 23
    zonezone Posts: 80member
    I am in the same boat. I have been down a ton and have been saving this for my future for 20 plus years. I worked hard to earn this stock and no one gave it to me. With that being said, Apple will be here longer than Trump, and time will heal what he has done and what he will do. He will die of old age, and his legacy will be made fun of for a long time. He will go down as one of the worst presidents the USA has ever seen. I hate to be positive, but Tim and Apple are way smarter than Trump and his MAGA morons. We are in for some hard times, but it won't last forever. Apple will find a way, and if Microsoft can navigate and still be worth a ton with almost no innovation and a horrible leader, Apple is a way better company. It is funny how Trump wants to destroy great American companies, but the people will prevail.
    edited May 25
    9secondkox2ForumPostThatguy2chasmdanoxdewmebaconstang
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  • Reply 6 of 23
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,539member
    Little Bonta isn’t going to do anything. The president has the authority to impose tarriffs and exercise trade policy. Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 

    Cook has Trumps number. Just needs to call and provide some assurances. 

    Bonta needs to watch Bambi vs Godzilla. 
    ITGUYINSDThatguy2AppleZuludanoxbaconstangtoddzrxforegoneconclusion
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  • Reply 7 of 23
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,539member
     A tariff has to apply to products or countries it can only single out a particular company if that company is found to be selling a product below market value (i.e. dumping) and this clearly is not the case for Apple.  
    A 25% tarriff on Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese tech or smartphone exports fits the bill nicely. 
    ssfe11AppleZuludanoxbaconstangWesley_Hilliard
     0Likes 5Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 23
    AppleZuluapplezulu Posts: 2,465member
    Little Bonta isn’t going to do anything. The president has the authority to impose tarriffs and exercise trade policy. Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 

    Cook has Trumps number. Just needs to call and provide some assurances. 

    Bonta needs to watch Bambi vs Godzilla. 
    You still haven’t answered my question. Trump’s demand that Apple open a US iPhone factory in weeks or face a targeted 25% tariff is impossible. If you’re Tim Cook, what’s your response to an impossible demand? 
    williamlondondanoxdewmebaconstangmattinoz9secondkox2
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  • Reply 9 of 23
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,748member
    AppleZulu said:
    You still haven’t answered my question. Trump’s demand that Apple open a US iPhone factory in weeks or face a targeted 25% tariff is impossible. If you’re Tim Cook, what’s your response to an impossible demand? 
    "See you in court." :)
    danoxbaconstangmacguiforegoneconclusion
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  • Reply 10 of 23
    Little Bonta isn’t going to do anything. The president has the authority to impose tarriffs and exercise trade policy. Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 

    Cook has Trumps number. Just needs to call and provide some assurances. 

    Bonta needs to watch Bambi vs Godzilla. 
    You should  really read the Constitution of the United States of America. It lays out which  powers each branch of government has. You are categorically incorrect. 
    williamlondondanoxbaconstangssfe11macgui
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  • Reply 11 of 23
    AppleZuluapplezulu Posts: 2,465member
    chasm said:
    AppleZulu said:
    You still haven’t answered my question. Trump’s demand that Apple open a US iPhone factory in weeks or face a targeted 25% tariff is impossible. If you’re Tim Cook, what’s your response to an impossible demand? 
    "See you in court." :)
    Yeah, I want @9secondkox2 to answer the question. As a True Believer, constantly claiming Trump has a plan and playbook with the tariffs, he should be able to explain what this demand is supposed to elicit in response.  He previously claimed that Apple would be “fine,” and that the previous tariff exemptions were part of this master plan, and that Trump was looking out for Apple, because he and Cook have a good relationship. 

    Now we’re at what surely looks like an impasse.  What response could Apple possibly give to avoid a hugely damaging 25% tariff? I think the person claiming there’s a well-reasoned plan should be able to tell us what it is. 
    williamlondondanoxbaconstangssfe11macgui
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  • Reply 12 of 23
    Later comment from White House was that 25% tariff also applies to Samsung cell phones, which are also expected to be made in US. Good luck with that. Expect to keep your smart phones for 2-4 more years, when Democrats take over the House, Senate and White House.
    williamlondondanoxbaconstang
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  • Reply 13 of 23
    mikethemartianmikethemartian Posts: 1,687member
    Little Bonta isn’t going to do anything. The president has the authority to impose tarriffs and exercise trade policy. Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 

    Cook has Trumps number. Just needs to call and provide some assurances. 

    Bonta needs to watch Bambi vs Godzilla. 
    It isn't "Bambi vs Godzilla" it's "Bambi Meets Godzilla".
    williamlondonbaconstangmacgui
     1Like 1Dislike 1Informative
  • Reply 14 of 23
    ssfe11ssfe11 Posts: 171member
    Trump is losing voters left and right. I’m a registered republican who is going to vote democrat across the board come midterms. Even Fox News say he has the lowest approval rate of any president in history. He’s killing the Republicans Party. 
    9secondkox2
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 23
    nubusnubus Posts: 863member
    Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 
    Seems Foxconn workers in Vietnam get around $3.5 per hour.
    Do you want to take Americans away from their $19/hour assembly jobs so they can work for $3.5?
    Or make iPhone assembly (not the device) 450% more expensive by assembling in the US? How will that help or make things fairer?
    ssfe119secondkox2
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 16 of 23
    ssfe11ssfe11 Posts: 171member
    It’s so satisfying to read the backlash against these Apple Tariffs. People really get it that Trump is clueless. 10 years of FB MAGA people posting multiple times a day in support of Trump are now nowhere to be found. Maybe this just pushed people over the edge. In any event it’s wonderful to see that reason and sanity still exist and they realize Trump is unfit and a threat to us all. My faith in humanity is restored. 
    badmonk
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  • Reply 17 of 23
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,600member
    $Trump continually exercises authority where he has none and abuses what authority he does have. He's done this politically since is first term and will continue to do so until he leaves office. He concerns of "making things better for America" are limited to making things better for the top richest people in American, personally profiteering America, and punishing everyone who's ever "done him wrong" or who he doesn't like.

    In his personal life he's been screwing others out of monies own long before any political aspirations.

    He'd demonstrated his maliciousness, his greed, and his ignorance time and time again. He fails to get any more informed as time passes. His colossally bad handling of tariffs since is first term have shone immeasurably and immediate disasterous results. Many of his stupidly ("ignorantly" isn't apt) issued EOs and bills he's pressured Republicans in to passing, i.e. the One Big Beautiful Bill won't show the havoc and damage they'll cause right away.

    Many of his MAGA cult will praise him. They don't see what actual analysts and experts in the econmics fields already know – these bills and cuts due great harm to the American people and Democracy. Even when MAGA is hurt by the horrific cuts to important services, many of them will say he's the greatest President ever. Others will say WHY ME? I VOTED FOR YOU! It will be too late for them.

    The backlash against the $Trump Tariff of Nottingham needs to be taken to the voting booth. Democrats need to take back at least two of the three branches or the reign of $Trump will carry on much longer than his term of office. Even thing the damage done doesn't just stop at the end of his term.

    Democrats sweeping the midterms and winning in '28 won't be enough. It's been made shockingly clear that authoritarianism isn't something that happens in other countries. It happen here because enough of us didn't pay attention, didn't care, and took far too much for granted. Channel hate and discontent — and reason, sanity, and humanity are shoved to the back of the bus.
    9secondkox2
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  • Reply 18 of 23
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,539member
    ssfe11 said:
    Trump is losing voters left and right. I’m a registered republican who is going to vote democrat across the board come midterms. Even Fox News say he has the lowest approval rate of any president in history. He’s killing the Republicans Party. 
    Actually, he's making good on what he promised voters. It's why we elected him. you do what you want. It's a free country.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 19 of 23
    Wesley_Hilliardwesley_hilliard Posts: 544member, administrator, moderator, editor
    ssfe11 said:
    Trump is losing voters left and right. I’m a registered republican who is going to vote democrat across the board come midterms. Even Fox News say he has the lowest approval rate of any president in history. He’s killing the Republicans Party. 
    Actually, he's making good on what he promised voters. It's why we elected him. you do what you want. It's a free country.
    Yep, he's certainly making good on every line of Project 2025. Very efficient in that respect.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 20 of 23
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,539member

    AppleZulu said:
    Little Bonta isn’t going to do anything. The president has the authority to impose tarriffs and exercise trade policy. Tarriffs ate a trade tool. And he’s using them to get things fairer for America. 

    Cook has Trumps number. Just needs to call and provide some assurances. 

    Bonta needs to watch Bambi vs Godzilla. 
    You still haven’t answered my question. Trump’s demand that Apple open a US iPhone factory in weeks or face a targeted 25% tariff is impossible. If you’re Tim Cook, what’s your response to an impossible demand? 
    Pick a model and assemble here with robots and humans. iPhone SE/Air, or whatever. There are lots of unemployed folks who'd jump at the chance. something is better than nothing.
    edited May 27
    tht
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