Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing are causing a collapse in Apple device exports to the U.S. market, forcing the company to reconfigure its global supply chain.
Apple is experiencing one of its most challenging moments regarding international logistics. According to a new report, shipments of iPhones and other devices from China to the United States decreased by 72% in the last month, totaling just $700 million, contrasted with an overall 21% decline in Chinese exports to the U.S. market.
The main reason for this drop is the reinstatement of trade tariffs by former President Donald Trump, who has returned to the scene with aggressive measures to boost domestic production and reduce technological dependency on China. Among the most controversial policies is the imposition of tariffs of up to 145% on technology products from China, directly impacting companies like Apple, which still maintains a significant portion of its production in the Asian country.
A Supply Chain Forced to Change
In light of this situation, Apple has begun to redirect part of its production to India, where import costs are lower and the regulatory environment is seen as more favorable. In fact, iPhone production in India increased by 60% year-on-year, reaching $22 billion, according to the company’s internal data.
However, the strategy is not without obstacles. Trump has also criticized the outsourcing to India, urging companies like Apple to set up factories on U.S. soil to meet the needs of the domestic tech sector.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, addressed the situation in the latest earnings call: “What we’ve learned over time is that having everything in one place carries too many risks. We have diversified some parts of the supply chain, and that approach is likely to continue in the future.”
China’s Dependency Remains Key
Despite efforts to diversify, Apple still relies heavily on China, where the production of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other key devices is concentrated. Industrial capacity, technical expertise, and long-term agreements with Chinese suppliers make a complete relocation complex, costly, and slow.
China is not the only country involved in the manufacturing of Apple products, but it remains central to its assembly and distribution capabilities. The breakdown or tension in that relationship, as evidenced by recent export data, directly affects the trade balance and the stability of the global supply chain.
The Future of Apple: Between India and the U.S.
As Apple tries to adapt to new geopolitical conditions, the main challenge is reconfiguring its production model without compromising deadlines, quality, or costs. Expansion in India is an important step, but pressure from Washington to invest directly in the U.S. could again alter the company’s roadmap.
In a landscape marked by trade protectionism and global uncertainty, Apple is compelled to balance political interests, operational costs, and market expectations, all while maintaining its technological leadership.
For now, the economic impact is already palpable. The question remains whether other major tech companies will follow suit… or if the globalized production model is starting to crumble.