Apple Pledges $100 Billion for US Manufacturing, Balancing AI Investments and Political Pressure

Apple pledges another $100B to US manufacturing push

US President Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook made a joint announcement from the White House on Wednesday of another Apple pledge to move manufacturing back to the United States, with an additional $100 billion in funding for domestic projects. The move could keep Apple one step ahead of Trump's unpredictable tariff policy, which threatens to increase costs on iPhones manufactured overseas. The cornerstone of Apple's additional commitment will be a new project called the American Manufacturing Program. According to an Apple press release, the program will see Apple investing in growing its domestic manufacturing commitments in a number of different directions in addition to what it's done so far. "We're proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program," Apple CEO Tim Cook said. Apple has made much of its attempts to appease Trump's domestic manufacturing demands, which have come following threats of tariffs on iPhones produced outside the United States. Despite those demands, Apple has long insisted that iPhone manufacturing is unlikely to return to the United States, and the Wednesday announcement was yet another opportunity Apple used not to make that move. But while Apple won't be bringing iPhone manufacturing back to the United States, it will be making a number of parts for the industry-leading devices at US facilities. The program will see Apple expand its partnership with Gorilla Glass maker Corning to centralize iPhone and Apple Watch glass production at its Kentucky factory. The iBiz also struck a new multiyear deal with Coherent, its long-standing VCSEL laser partner, to produce the Face ID and related sensor lasers for iPhone and iPad in Texas. Expansion of domestic semiconductor partnerships with US firms such as Texas Instruments, GlobalWafers America, and MP Materials (the nation's only domestic rare earth magnet maker), and others, also mean that some of the silicon and magnet components for iPhone devices sold in the US will actually be made here, too. "[These partners] produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we're grateful to the President for his support," Cook said. He appears to have risen in Trump's standing, being referred to as "one of the truly great legends of our time in my book" instead of "Tim Apple" at this meeting. Apple's latest manufacturing investment follows a $500 billion domestic manufacturing commitment the company announced in February, which will mostly fund new facilities in Texas and Arizona for constructing AI-accelerating servers and chips, respectively. Apple also said it intends to do more research and development domestically as part of that deal. Apple also last month announced the opening of a manufacturing academy in Detroit in partnership with Michigan State University, where it educates small and mid-size businesses on smart manufacturing and, ironically enough, given Apple's stumbles in the space, AI implementation. The academy's doors open later this month, and virtual programming will also be offered at a later date. That hasn't been enough to ease the threat of Trump's tariffs, however. Apple moved much of its US-bound iPhone manufacturing to India - something Trump said he doesn't like much - but the iPhone is exempt from the 25 percent tariff, which kicks off overnight, and goes up to 50 percent by the end of the month, according to CNBC. That said, Trump has changed his mind on tariffs many times, and may at any point decide to end that exemption. Wednesday's manufacturing commitment could help Apple stave off that possibility. "This is the largest investment Apple has ever made in the US or anywhere else," Trump claimed from the Oval Office. "Apple's been an investor in other countries a little bit - I won't say which ones, but they're coming home." ®

Trump Hosting Apple Exec to Tout $100 Billion Investment

In the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, Trump will announce Apple is adding $100 billion to the $500 billion pledge the company made in February to increase its investment in U.S. manufacturing and tech training, according to two White House officials. The announcement comes as Apple tries to avoid Trump's tariffs on imports impacting the cost of its iPhones and computers in the U.S. Trump's announcement will bring Apple's promised investment in the U.S. to $600 billion over the next four years. It follows a pattern of Trump stepping forward to tout investments companies are making in the U.S. It's unclear how much of those investments would have been made anyway. Trump has predicted his threat of tariffs on imports will pressure companies to increase manufacturing inside the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. has ticked downward slightly since Trump took office. Apple announced in February that it planned to expand facilities in Arizona, California, Iowa, Oregon, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Washington state. The company said it would construct a new factory in Houston, Texas by the end of 2026 intended to build servers that support Apple's AI products. Apple has also promised to increase education for tech manufacturing workers. The Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit, Michigan, is scheduled to open on Aug. 19. Apple said it would double its designated U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund from $5 billion to $10 billion.

Apple Seeks Pivot on AI as It Pours Additional $100B Into US - Decrypt

New facilities are underway in Texas, Kentucky, Arizona, and more. Trump's tariff threat on semiconductors appears to be accelerating tech reshoring, with Apple pledging substantial investment in U.S. investments to sidestep penalties and align with the White House's manufacturing goals. Apple will invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing, bringing its total domestic spending to $600 billion, CEO Tim Cook announced Wednesday alongside President Donald Trump at the White House. The latest investment follows Apple's earlier commitment in February to invest $500 billion in U.S. infrastructure. The expanded commitment includes a new American Manufacturing Program aimed at ramping up domestic production of key components used in Apple devices. "Earlier this year, we broke ground on a new factory in Houston to make advanced AI servers, and just last month, the very first test unit rolled off that factory's line, proudly made in America," Cook said. Apple said the $600 billion would also go toward partnerships, supply chain expansion, and rare earth mineral harvesting. Apple's shift to infrastructure comes as the company faces growing pressure to show progress in AI. Apple Intelligence has struggled to gain traction since its announcement in October 2024. In June, Apple's head of foundation models, Rouming Pang, left the company to join Meta's new Superintelligence Labs. Despite those setbacks, Cook said the company would continue to push its AI ambitions. "We're also significantly growing our investments in AI, including expanding data center capacity in North Carolina, Nevada, Iowa, Arizona, and Oregon," Cook said. "So we're going to keep making investments right here in America." The company is also turning to domestic sources for other components, including rare earth minerals and advanced magnets. In total, Apple said the American Manufacturing Program would see 450,000 jobs created in all 50 states. Trump, who has long pressed companies to bring jobs and production back to the U.S., amid threats of higher tariffs, praised Apple's announcement, adding that his administration would "make sure they're treated well." "We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors," Trump said. "But the good news for companies like Apple is if you're building in the U.S. -- or have committed to build in the U.S. -- there will be no charge." Apple joins a growing list of tech giants making major AI infrastructure commitments aligned with the White House's goals. In January, OpenAI partnered with Oracle and SoftBank to launch the $500 billion Stargate Project. In April, chipmaker Nvidia pledged a similar $500 billion investment to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. Reactions to the announcement were mixed, with some praising the move as a patriotic move to bring jobs back to the United States, while others criticized Cook's appearance alongside Trump. "This is huge news for our country!! It's about time to bring all manufacturing back to America!" one user on X said. "This is unprecedented," another wrote. "American Made is BACK!!!" "Yep, that's it. I was going to get rid of my Apple stuff anyway, but this seals it," one user wrote on BlueSky. "I'm done with them. No more knee benders." "I don't exactly know why I have used almost no Apple products, other than a couple of iPods and Apple Music," another wrote. "But after Tim Cook's absolute capitulation, I am really happy about all that."

How Tim Cook convinced Trump to drop made-in-USA iPhone -- for now

President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants Apple to make iPhones in the U.S. Apple CEO Tim Cook is doing what he can to appease the commander in chief, without making that ultimate concession. Cook on Wednesday appeared at the White House with Trump to announce plans to spend about $600 billion over four years in the U.S. Apple didn't announce the made-in-USA iPhone that Trump wants, but Cook got to tout Apple's position on U.S. production. Some of Apple's most valuable parts, such as its glass and facial recognition sensor, are made by U.S. companies that Apple has worked with for years. Final assembly is only a small, though very critical, part of iPhone production. "The final assembly that you focus on, that will be elsewhere for a while," Cook said Wednesday in the Oval Office. Trump appeared happy enough, for now. "He makes many of the components here, and we've been talking about it," Trump said. "The whole thing is set up in other places, and it's been there for a long time in terms of cost and all, but I think we may incentivize him enough that one day he'll be bringing that back." Experts said Cook's announcement seemed designed to get Apple out of Trump's crosshairs with respect to tariffs. Trump announced during the public meeting that the administration planned to place a tariff on chips that would double their price, but Apple -- which relies on hundreds of different chips for its devices -- would be exempt. "CEOs are realizing that they do have to do something, and what they've discovered is that if they give the president something to brag about without destroying their company, that the problem might go away for a certain amount of time," said Peter Cohan, professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at Babson College who has written case studies on Apple. The gambit worked. Apple stock rose 5% on Wednesday and another 3% on Thursday. "What Tim Cook demonstrated in the first administration was a real savvy navigation of the treacherous waters," said Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, which holds a position in Apple. "I thought this announcement was super-important symbolically, because the president is looking for headlines." The centerpiece of Apple's announcement was the so-called American Manufacturing Program, which Apple said was designed to incentivize other companies to make parts for computers in the U.S. By Apple committing to purchase parts and expand its relationship with U.S. suppliers, it could give those companies the skills and capacity to expand their business. And it lets Apple take some credit for supporting the 450,000 total jobs at its suppliers. A closer look at the members of the program shows that Apple is leaning on some of its longest-tenured partners. All together, Apple said that its U.S. suppliers are on track to make 19 billion chips for its products this year. That level of business doesn't appear overnight. For example, Apple said that all of its cover glass for iPhones and Apple Watches would be made by Corning, in Kentucky, and that it would spend $2.5 billion on that effort. It's a powerful symbol -- while the phone might be screwed together in China or India, the surface that users touch around the world will be made in the U.S. But Apple has pointed to Corning as a critical American supplier in the past. The company's glass has been used on the iPhone since its first version in 2007. While Apple typically doesn't let its suppliers talk about their relationships, former COO Jeff Williams hailed Corning's glass in 2017, when it got an "investment" from the Apple Advanced Manufacturing Fund. Apple followed that up with a $250 million commitment in 2019, and $45 million in 2021. Analysts are skeptical that the partnership could substantially improve Corning's revenue. Morgan Stanley analysts wrote on Thursday that Corning "already produces 100% of the cover glass for Apple's phones and tablets," adding that Corning's glass business called Specialty Materials is worth about $2 billion per year. Apple also highlighted its partnership with Coherent, a longtime supplier of lasers for Apple's facial recognition hardware, which is made in Texas. Morgan Stanley pegged the business at about $100 million per year, and said Apple has options including Lumentum and Sony. The iPhone maker said it expanded a partnership with Texas Instruments to make chips in Texas and Utah. Texas Instruments has long supplied chips for the iPhone, such as circuits to control USB interfaces or power displays. Apple said it would partner with Samsung, another key supplier of parts like iPhone displays, to launch an "innovative new technology for making chips," without offering additional details. Apple declared that it will partner directly with companies in the semiconductor chain, even if they typically sell services or goods to Apple suppliers. Other partnerships are with Applied Materials, a tooling company, GlobalFoundries, a chip foundry, and GlobalWafers America, which is supplying Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Texas Instruments with made-in-USA wafers, the starting point for a batch of chips. GlobalFoundries manufactures chips for Broadcom, which supplies wireless chips for iPhones. Both will work with Apple to develop and manufacture 5G components in the U.S. Meanwhile, Apple will buy millions of advanced chips made by TSMC in Arizona, where it will be the factory's largest customer. Cook joined former President Joe Biden at the plant in 2022 and committed to buying chips from the factory. Apple said it would invest in and become a customer at an Arizona Amkor facility, which packages and tests chips, the final stage before installation in a computer. Apple also said it would expand existing data centers for artificial intelligence in North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada and Oregon. It's highlighted these data centers in the past in spending commitments. While Apple's announcement sent partner stocks up, JPMorgan Chase analysts warned in a note on Thursday that "the new and expanded engagements might not be completely incremental to global revenues and outlook." Trump had a different take. "Oh, I love that you're doing this," the president said, after reading a list of Apple's commitments. Apple has little to worry about when it comes to who will hold the company accountable for its promises. The company doesn't break out U.S. spending, and most of Apple's suppliers are contractually required to keep the information secret. Apple doesn't report how much its new campuses in Austin, Texas, or North Carolina end up costing. Additionally, the $600 billion headline number likely includes lots of regular expenses. Apple said in February that its $500 billion commitment included payments to U.S. suppliers, direct employment, data centers for Apple Intelligence and corporate facilities, as well as spending on Apple TV+ productions in 20 states. Apple started publicly announcing U.S. spending during Trump's first administration in 2018, at a rate of about $70 billion per year. In February, the company committed to $125 billion per year. Wednesday's announcement brings that figure to $150 billion annually. That's still a fraction of Apple's total spending. In Apple's fiscal 2024, the company spent $210 billion globally on cost of goods sold, $57.5 billion on operating expenses and $9.45 billion in capital expenditures for nearly $275 billion in global spending during the period. Teffler said she didn't think the newly announced spending would be material to Apple's profitability, especially since it already has relationships with the various companies such as Corning. "They're going to spend money somewhere," Tegler said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who previously predicted a made-in-USA iPhone would cost billions to produce and would leave consumers paying $3,500, said the Wednesday announcements indicate a much different approach. He said it's "the cost of doing business."

Apple pledges to invest another $100B in U.S. manufacturing, but stops short of promising a 100% American-made iPhone - SiliconANGLE

Apple pledges to invest another $100B in U.S. manufacturing, but stops short of promising a 100% American-made iPhone Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook stood alongside President Donald Trump at the White House today, where he announced his company will invest another $100 billion in its efforts to boost manufacturing in the U.S. The investment brings Apple's total commitment to $600 billion, and will create about 20,000 new jobs for American-based workers at the company. "Today, Apple is announcing it will invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years," Trump told reporters. "That's $100 billion more than they were originally going to invest. And this is the largest investment Apple has ever made in America." Trump added that the investment marks a "significant step" towards his ambitious goal of ensuring that every iPhone sold in the U.S. is also made in the U.S. Cook explained that the additional investment will be used to construct a previously-announced server manufacturing plant in Houston and fund the development of data centers spread across the country, as well as a new manufacturing academy in Detroit. According to Cook, the company is also going to launch a new "American Manufacturing Program", which is focused on bringing as much of the company's supply chain as possible back to the U.S., including advanced manufacturing operations. For instance, Apple has committed to eventually manufacture 100% of the cover glass used on its iPhones and Apple Watch devices at a facility in Kentucky, in partnership with Corning Inc. The company will spend around $2.5 billion on that initiative, Cook said. "Every new iPhone and every new Apple Watch sold in the world will contain cover glass that's made in Kentucky," Cook promised. The company already sources a substantial amount of its cover glass from Corning's Harrodsburg facility, but it's not clear when it will be ready to manufacture all of the glass it needs. The Apple CEO also revealed plans to build an "end-to-end silicon supply chain" in the U.S., which will enable it to increase its chip design, manufacturing and packaging operations in the country. "American innovation is central to everything we do," Cook said, adding that his company already "supports 450,000 jobs with suppliers and partners in all 50 states." Trump then heaped praise on Apple and Cook especially, calling him a "visionary", before repeating a threat to slap 100% tariffs on all semiconductors made outside of the U.S if chipmakers don't strive to manufacture them in the country. "I think the chip companies are all coming back home," he told reporters. "If you're building in the United States or committed to build without question, there will be no charge." Apple said in February that it's planning to spend $500 billion over the next four years in an effort to move more of its manufacturing supply chain back to the U.S. As part of that earlier plan, it said it will hire an additional 20,000 U.S.-based workers and build a 250,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Houston. That plant is set to open in 2026, and will be used to manufacture the servers that power Apple's cloud-based artificial intelligence services. The iPhone maker is doing all of this in response to Trump's threat to impose a tariff of 25% on all handsets made outside of the U.S. The President has previously stated on social media that he wants all iPhones sold in the country to be "manufactured and built in the United States, not India or anyplace else." During the press conference, Cook was asked if the company would realistically be able to manufacture an entire iPhone in the U.S. He responded that some components are already made domestically, and that assembly can be done entirely in the U.S., but didn't make any promises that the entire thing could be manufactured in America. Trump struck a more optimistic tone, saying that a 100% U.S.-made iPhone could well happen "one day".

Apple, TSMC evade 100pc chips tariff with US investment promises

Tim Cook says all Apple glass screens will soon be manufactured in US at the Cornering Kentucky plant (pictured). Image: Apple Apple joins players like chips giant TSMC in placating Donald Trump and extracting carve-outs from his 100pc semiconductor tariff, with further $100bn in US investment. Having already announced a headline figure of $500bn back in February, Apple gave Donald Trump another photo opportunity at the White House yesterday when Tim Cook met the president and announced an additional $100bn investment in US manufacturing, but if you look closer, this remains about iPhone components like it's glass screens, and any commitment to making iPhones in the US is a long, long way off. With Trump always on the lookout for headline opportunities that support his tariffs strategy, Apple and other players seem happy to oblige in a bid to placate him and evade his tariff wrath. And it is working. Yesterday Trump said thanks to US investment commitments, Apple will evade his threatened 100pc tariff on imported chips. As usual, details were scant, but Trump had announced an approximately 100pc tariff in the import of semiconductors manufactured outside the US, as he continues his strategy of forcing major companies to invest in the US. "We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors," Trump said in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, CNBC reported. "But the good news for companies like Apple is if you're building in the United States or have committed to build, without question, committed to build in the United States, there will be no charge," he said. In Taiwan, TSMC shares surged this morning as its minister in charge of the National Development Council, said TSMC is exempted from the 100pc chip tariffs because it has set up plants in the US. TSMC is the leading manufacturer in the world of the chips that are used in artificial intelligence (AI), with major clients like Nvidia, Apple and AMD. In March it announced a $100bn investment in the US that would include three new fabs. Liu added that United Microelectronics, the country's second largest chipmaker, could also mitigate the effect of tariffs thanks to collaborations with Intel. Samsung too look set to evade the tariffs, with its ongoing commitments to investing in US manufacturing, and the South Korean company got a mention in Apple's announcement, saying Apple would work with Samsung's semiconductor facility in Austin, Texas. "Apple is also working with Samsung at its fab in Austin, Texas, to launch an innovative new technology for making chips, which has never been used before anywhere in the world," it said. "By bringing this technology to the US first, this facility will supply chips that optimize power and performance of Apple products." Back in the US Tim Cook, Apple's CEO yesterday said he was proud to increase Apple's investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years, and had some kind words for Trump. "This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America," he said. "They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we're grateful to the President for his support." Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news

Trump announces huge tech tariffs - and hails 'significant step' towards an 'ultimate goal'

The US president - who memorably once referred to Tim Cook as Tim Apple - has previously criticised the tech boss and his company after it attempted to avoid his China tariffs by shifting iPhone production to India. Donald Trump has announced 100% tariffs on computer chips and semiconductors made outside the US. The announcement came as Apple chief executive Tim Cook said his company would invest an extra $100bn (£74.9bn) in US manufacturing. Soon, all smartwatch and iPhone glass around the world will be made in Kentucky, according to Mr Cook, speaking from the Oval Office. "This is a significant step toward the ultimate goal of ensuring that iPhones sold in the United States of America are also made in America," said Mr Trump. "Today's announcement is one of the largest commitments in what has become among the greatest investment booms in our nation's history." Mr Cook also presented the president with a one-of-a-kind trophy made by Apple in the US. Trump's tariffs hit India hard Mr Trump has previously criticised Mr Cook and Apple after the company attempted to avoid his tariffs by shifting iPhone production from China to India. The president said he had a "little problem" with Apple and said he'd told Mr Cook: "I don't want you building in India." India itself felt Mr Trump's wrath on Wednesday, as he issued an executive order hitting the country with an additional 25% tariff for its continued purchasing of Russian oil. Indian imports into the US will face a 50% tariff from 27 August as a result of the move, as the president seeks to increase the pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Mr Trump told reporters at the White House he "could" also hit China with more tariffs. Apple, meanwhile, plans to hire 20,000 people in the US to support its extra manufacturing in the country, which will total $600bn (around £449bn) worth of investment over four years. The "vast majority" of those jobs will be focused on a new end-to-end US silicon production line, research and development, software development, and artificial intelligence, according to the company. Apple's investment in the US caused the company's stock price to hike by nearly 6% in Wednesday's midday trading. The rise may reflect relief by investors that Mr Cook "is extending an olive branch" to Mr Trump, said Nancy Tengler, chief executive of money manager Laffer Tengler Investments, which owns Apple stock.

Apple boosts US investment to $600 billion, launches American Manufacturing Program

TL;DR: Apple commits $100 billion to US investments, totaling over $600 billion, launching the American Manufacturing Program (AMP) to boost domestic supply chains and advanced manufacturing. The initiative partners with key US suppliers, expands production of iPhone and Apple Watch components, and plans to hire 20,000 workers focused on R&D and AI. Apple has just announced a new $100 billion commitment to America, totaling its US investments at over $600 billion, with the company also launching its new American Manufacturing Program (AMP) that will bring more of Apple's supply chain and advanced manufacturing onto US soil. Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "Today, we're proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program. This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we're grateful to the President for his support". Apple parts and components manufactured in the US ship to customers across the planet, with around 2/3 of the components made in the US, exported to customers across the globe. The company partners with thousands of suppliers across all 50 states, with over 450,000 suppliers and partner jobs, while over the next four years Apple plans to directly hire 20,000 new people in the US, with the vast majority of those new employees focused on R&D, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning. The new American Manufacturing Program (AMP) will see Apple working with its suppliers to "accelerate" manufacturing in the US, with the first AMP partners being Corning, Coherent, GlobalWafers America (GWA), Applied Materials, Texas Instruments (TI), Samsung, GlobalFoundries, Amkor, and Broadcom. Apple also confirmed last month (July 2025) that it was committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets from MP Materials. Apple's plan with the American Manufacturing Program will see the expansion of the company's long-standing partnership with Gorilla Glass maker Corning, by bringing the most advanced smartphone glass production line to a factory located in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, USA. There are also two companies that will "soon" open a new Apple-Corning Innovation Center in Kentucky, too. This expansion will see every iPhone and Apple Watch sold across the planet, built with Kentucky-made cover glass. Apple has also entered a new multi-year agreement with Coherent, another long-standing partner, that makes the VCSEL lasers that enable multiple features -- these include Face ID -- on both all iPhone and iPad devices shipped across the world. These components are worked on at Coherent's facility in Sherman, Texas, USA.

Apple plans to invest another $100 billion in US manufacturing amid tariff pressure - The Economic Times

US President Donald Trump is expected to soon make an announcement in this regard in the presence of Apple chief executive Tim Cook. The White House is reportedly planning to roll out a new manufacturing programme to bring Apple's business to the US.Apple plans to spend another $100 billion on domestic manufacturing in a move to increase production in the United States, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. The report added that President Donald Trump will soon make an announcement regarding the same in the presence of chief executive Tim Cook. The development comes after Cook, in an internal meeting with employees, highlighted that the company will take a $1.1 billion hit this quarter due to Trump-era tariffs, even as App Store revenue surged in double digits last quarter despite regulatory pressure from the European Union and other global authorities. The White House is reportedly planning to roll out a new manufacturing programme to bring Apple's business to the US. In February, Apple announced a massive $500 billion investment plan in the US. The initiative aims to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure while potentially shielding the company from the impact of tariff increases proposed by Trump. The tech giant will construct a new 250,000-square-foot factory in Houston, Texas, dedicated to Apple Intelligence AI systems. Additionally, a manufacturing academy will be established in Detroit to help small- and medium-sized enterprises adopt AI-driven production techniques. Apple under Donald Trump's tariff radar US President Donald Trump, in May, threatened to impose "at least" 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the country unless they are made in America, and "not in India, or anyplace else". In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "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 US"

Apple-Donald Trump $600 billion bonhomie to create thousands of jobs in USA? Details here

Apple has announced mega multi-billion dollars investment push in the USA. Apple Inc will announce a domestic manufacturing pledge of $100 billion on Wednesday that will focus on bringing more manufacturing to the United States, a White House official said. The pledge would be a new financial commitment on top of what Apple has already pledged, the official said on customary condition of anonymity. Apple said in February it would spend $500 billion in U.S. investments in the next four years that will include a giant factory in Texas for artificial intelligence servers while adding about 20,000 research and development jobs across the country. Earlier, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Apple Inc was likely to make an investment announcement on Wednesday, as he discussed the financial pledges made by companies and countries under President Donald Trump. "They're moving here in droves. This is trillions and trillions of dollars of commitments for people to build new factories here. In fact, you're likely to see one today from Apple," Hassett said in an interview with Fox Business Network. He did not elaborate. Q1. How much is Apple investing? A1. Apple said in February it would spend $500 billion in U.S. investments in the next four years that will include a giant factory in Texas for artificial intelligence servers while adding about 20,000 research and development jobs across the country. Q2. Who is President of USA? A1. President of USA is Donald Trump.

Apple's Move May Save iPhone Sales-And The Stock Could Soar - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Apple Inc.'s AAPL smart decision to add another $100 billion to its U.S. manufacturing commitment is being hailed on Wall Street as a tactical move to dodge steep tariffs under President Donald Trump's trade regime -- and possibly reignite its stock, which is still down 12% year-to-date. AAPL stock is moving fast. Check live prices here. The company announced the launch of its American Manufacturing Program (AMP) on Aug. 6, bringing its total planned U.S. investment to $600 billion over four years, up from $500 billion previously. The timing was crucial: on the same day, Trump unveiled a 100% tariff on semiconductors for companies not building in the U.S. Apple, thanks to its new commitment, was officially granted an exemption. For analysts, the message was clear -- this wasn't just a patriotic investment push, it was a calculated maneuver to shield the iPhone business from tariff headwinds that could hurt pricing, margins, and competitiveness. Inside Apple's $600 Billion US Expansion Plan Apple's American Manufacturing Program (AMP) will work to recenter its supply chain inside the U.S., in partnership with 10 domestic companies. This includes: Expansion of Corning's Kentucky plant to produce U.S.-made cover glass for every iPhone and Apple Watch Building out an end-to-end silicon supply chain, with 19 billion chips expected to be produced in the U.S. in 2025 Continuing construction of a server factory in Houston, supporting Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute Growing data center capacity in North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and Oregon Progress on a second campus in Austin, Texas Capex is also accelerating: Apple has spent $9.5 billion year-to-date, up from $6.5 billion in the same period last year. R&D grew 11% year over year in the third fiscal quarter and is expected to rise again next quarter, much of it tied to AI investments. Apple Could Gain Market Share: Bank of America "It seems increasingly likely that several Apple products will be exempt from tariffs," Bank of America's analyst Wamsi Mohan said in a note Thursday. He noted the competitive edge Apple could gain if its products avoid tariffs while others do not. "We believe there is the potential for Apple gaining smartphone market share in the U.S. if competitors are exposed to tariffs while iPhones were to remain exempt." Mohan had previously modeled a 200bps gross margin headwind under a 20% tariff scenario. With the exemption in hand, he now sees 100-200bps of potential margin upside, which could help push Apple toward 50% gross margins over time. He also flagged currency effects as a possible tailwind in the upcoming December quarter and raised his price objective from $240 to $250, citing increased confidence in Apple's over $8 earnings-per-share potential in calendar 2026. A Masterclass In Managing Uncertainty: JPMorgan JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee described Apple's announcement as a strategic response to long-standing tariff risks. "Apple and Tim Cook delivered a masterclass in managing uncertainty after months and months of overhang relative to the potential challenges the company could face from tariffs." He indicated that the revised and higher U.S. commitment should position Apple favorably as the 100% semiconductor tariffs go into effect. Apple's expanded domestic footprint helps mitigate those risks and reduces the chance of future policy exposure. Apple Named As Exempt Company: Goldman Sachs According to Goldman Sachs' analyst Michael Ng, Apple's tariff exemption is a game-changer for unit economics and relative competitiveness. "Apple's tariff exemption should alleviate tariff headwind concerns... the exemption could also put it at a potential cost advantage relative to smartphone, PC, and tablet competitors that do not receive an exemption" Goldman Sachs holds a 12-month price target at $266, implying a 22% surge from current levels. Market Reactions Shares of Apple rose more than 3% on Thursday, extending Wednesday's 5.1% surge and marking the stock's strongest two-day rally since April. Read Next: Apple, Nvidia Supplier TSMC Surges Nearly 5% In Overnight Trade As Taipei Says Chip Giant 'Exempt' From Trump's 100% Chip Tariffs AAPLApple Inc$220.053.19%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum35.26Growth28.69Quality73.82Value9.22Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Apple commits new $100 billion to U.S. manufacturing: Chips, glass, and AI servers

Apple has unveiled a $100 billion investment commitment to expand its U.S. operations, accelerating its total planned domestic investment to $600 billion over the next four years. Central to this effort is the launch of the American Manufacturing Program (AMP), aimed at strengthening supply chains, boosting local production, and encouraging global suppliers to manufacture more critical components within the United States. The AMP includes collaborations with suppliers across multiple states. Early partners include Corning, Coherent, GlobalWafers America, Applied Materials, Texas Instruments, Samsung, GlobalFoundries, Amkor, Broadcom, and MP Materials. Apple aims to produce over 19 billion chips domestically in 2025, working with partners throughout the semiconductor production chain: A new 250,000-square-foot factory in Houston is being developed for Apple server assembly, marking a shift from overseas production. After producing its first test unit in July, the facility is expected to begin mass production in 2026. These servers will support Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute, combining local AI processing power with advanced cloud security. Apple is growing its second Austin campus, home to more than 13,000 staff. New buildings will accommodate R&D teams for hardware, silicon, and software. The company aims to add 20,000 U.S. employees over four years, mainly in AI, machine learning, silicon engineering, and software. Beyond glass manufacturing, Corning supplies silicon materials to GlobalWafers America, underpinning Apple's domestic chip supply chain. The Ceramic Shield glass used in iPhones was developed collaboratively by Apple and Corning. Since 2017, Apple has invested nearly $500 million in Corning's Kentucky operations. Apple's $100 billion American Manufacturing Program seeks to expand domestic production of key components such as silicon chips, rare earth magnets, cover glass, and AI server hardware. The initiative aims to strengthen core supply chains in the U.S., promote innovation, and build a robust technical workforce to support Apple's long-term manufacturing goals.

Apple just got a big win in Trump's tariff war. It may have bigger concerns

Apple CEO Tim Cook should be breathing a sigh of relief. The White House on Wednesday ratcheted tariffs on Indian imports up by an additional 25 per cent, raising the total levies on one of the United States' most crucial trading partners to 50 per cent when they kick in later this month. But smartphones are exempt from U.S. President Donald Trump's new levies on India, marking a crucial win for the tech giant as it approaches its most important time of the year: its annual September iPhone launch followed by the holiday season. Apple will also dodge incoming new tariffs on semiconductors, since it's committed to building iPhone components in the United States, Trump said Wednesday. That's not to say tariffs won't hurt; CEO Tim Cook said tariffs will likely cost the company U.S.$1.1 billion this quarter. But analysts say Apple has bigger concerns, such as its future product strategy and approach to artificial intelligence, a burgeoning field that the tech behemoth is perceived to be behind in. Under different circumstances, such high tariffs could have spelled trouble for Apple. The iPhone is Apple's most important product, making up the majority of its revenue. Most iPhones sold in America come from India. And the Americas, which includes the United States, is Apple's largest market. "In terms of the longer-term issues, more than a year out, I would say tariffs are probably 20 per cent of it," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, who has covered Apple for decades. "I think what's going on the regulatory environments (is) probably 25 per cent, and 55 is related to how they're going to capitalize on AI." Tariffs are a challenge for Apple, but one that analysts seem confident the company can manage. A combination of Apple's diversified supply chain - which it partially shifted to areas like India and Vietnam around five years ago to reduce reliance on China during COVID - along with its high margins and Cook's operations expertise put the company in a strong position. Supply chain resilience is "supposed to allow you to adjust tactically to any major changes that comes unexpected," said Runar Bjørhovde, a research analyst for market research firm Canalys. That held true even before Apple committed to investing an additional $100 billion in the United States to manufacture iPhone parts domestically on Wednesday. While moves like these don't directly impact tariff policy, they do likely help Apple curry favor with the administration, especially as Trump has pressed Apple to build its iPhones domestically. "Look, he's not making this kind of an investment anywhere in the world, not even close," Trump said. "He's coming back. I mean, Apple is coming back to America." Some analysts already expected that the iPhone would be exempt from the upcoming levies on India ahead of Wednesday's tariff announcement. But the back-and-forth tariff policies, which have changed multiple times throughout the year, make it challenging to predict what could happen in the future. "Because (smartphones are) such an important category, the relationship that Apple has with both administrations, and specifically, even the U.S. administration, we do think that they will be able to maneuver against this threat," said Nabila Popal, senior director with the International Data Corporation's data and analytics team. "But it is important, of course. It does present a risk." That said, analysts largely believe India and China are Apple's only two options for producing U.S.-bound iPhones at scale. And since iPhone models available in the United States don't precisely match those sold elsewhere, Apple can't just redirect iPhones intended for different markets. New iPhones sold in America, for example, don't have physical SIM card slots anymore, and they support millimeter wave 5G, the kind of connection that provides faster, low-latency speeds but usually only at a short distance. "It's a massive tactical nightmare to deal with," said Bjørhovde. "Because you have to try and find a sweet spot and figure out what comes next." Cook said iPhones will continue to be assembled outside of the United States for "a while" during an event at the Oval Office announcing the new $100 billion investment on Wednesday. But he pointed to the company's strategy of instead producing iPhone components stateside. "Well, if you look at the bulk of it, we're doing a lot of the semiconductors here, we're doing the glass here, we're doing the Face ID module here, and so there's a ton of it, and we're doing these for products sold elsewhere in the world," Cook said. "And so there's a lot of content in there from United States." The narrative that Apple is behind in AI has been looming over the company all year - and some analysts see it as a more challenging issue to overcome than tariffs. Apple delayed a high-profile upgrade to its Siri assistant that would have enabled it to provide more personalized answers and act across apps, bringing it up to speed with the agent-like capabilities that Google and OpenAI are pursuing with their digital helpers. And the company's rivals are still using that setback as ammunition to promote their own products over Apple's. Just this week, Google posted an ad for its upcoming Pixel 10 phone that said: "If you buy a new phone because of a feature that's coming soon, but it's been coming soon for a full year, you could change your definition of soon." Apple's initial batch of AI features also didn't launch in time for the iPhone 16's arrival last September. At the same time, many of Apple's peers are seeing booming returns from their AI investments. Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT) both hit $4 trillion in market capitalization in July, a milestone Wall Street previously thought Apple (AAPL) might reach first. That's partially because of their fundamentally different products and business models. Apple is a consumer hardware company. In contrast, Microsoft, Meta (META) and Nvidia also provide the tools that businesses rely on to support AI-powered services and features, like cloud computing, chips and AI models. Still, Apple saw stellar earnings results for the June quarter, surpassing expectations for iPhone sales - including in China - and overall revenue. But during Apple's earnings call, analysts pressed Cook about his perspective on AI and what it means for the company's products. Those questions ranged from whether AI services might be eating into search engine usage, whether the forthcoming Siri upgrade could drive future new products and whether Apple would consider acquiring AI companies to further its product roadmap. "Taking a step back, we see AI as one of the most profound technologies of our lifetime," Cook said in his opening remarks during the earnings call. "We are embedding it across our devices and platforms and across the company. We are also significantly growing our investments." But Apple can't risk falling too far behind when it comes to the iPhone's AI capabilities. By doing so, it could create an opportunity for Samsung, Google and Qualcomm - the three of which dominate the Android phone space - to pull ahead, says Ted Mortonson, managing director and technology sector strategist at financial services company Baird. "What's more important with investors is, after the iPhone 17, what do they really do?" he said. "I mean, as far as generative AI and AI functionality, that that's the real focus on Apple right now."

Apple: Why the Stock Is Protected From Trump Admin's Semiconductor Tariff Plans | Investing.com UK

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a massive $100 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing on Wednesday, just as President Trump revealed plans for 100% tariffs on imported semiconductors. The strategic timing of Apple's investment announcement, which brings the company's total U.S. commitment to $600 billion over four years, appears designed to secure exemption from potentially devastating trade levies. Trump explicitly stated that companies manufacturing in the U.S. or committed to doing so would be exempt from the new tariffs, providing Apple with crucial protection during its most important sales period. Apple's announcement comes at a critical juncture as Trump's administration implemented sweeping tariffs of 10% to 50% on goods from dozens of trading partners, with smartphones notably exempt from the India levies. The timing was particularly crucial given Apple's reliance on overseas manufacturing, with most U.S.-bound iPhones produced in India and key components sourced globally. CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that tariffs would still cost the company $1.1 billion this quarter, but the exemption shields Apple from far more severe impact during the crucial September iPhone launch and holiday season. The new American Manufacturing Program (AMP) represents a significant expansion of Apple's existing U.S. supply chain investments, partnering with companies like Corning (NYSE:GLW), Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN), Samsung, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM). Apple's strategy includes building an end-to-end silicon supply chain in America, with partners producing over 19 billion chips for Apple products in 2025. The company plans to directly hire 20,000 people in the U.S., primarily focused on R&D, silicon engineering, and AI development. Trump praised Apple's commitment, stating "he's not making this kind of investment anywhere in the world, not even close." The exemption policy creates a clear incentive structure favoring large, cash-rich companies that can afford substantial U.S. investments. Apple's diversified supply chain, built over five years to reduce China dependence during COVID, positions the company well to navigate the complex tariff landscape while smaller competitors may struggle with compliance costs. The manufacturing commitments extend beyond mere tariff avoidance, with Apple establishing facilities across multiple states including Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. The company's $500 million rare earth magnet deal with MP Materials and partnerships for advanced chip packaging demonstrate a comprehensive approach to supply chain localization that serves both geopolitical and business objectives. The proposed 100% tariffs on imported semiconductors represent one of the most aggressive trade measures in recent history, with potentially catastrophic effects for countries heavily dependent on U.S. chip exports. Industry leaders in the Philippines warned the policy would be "devastating," while Malaysia's trade minister cautioned about losing competitiveness in a major market. The tariffs create a stark divide between companies with U.S. manufacturing capabilities and those reliant on overseas production, fundamentally reshaping global semiconductor supply chains. South Korea negotiated favorable treatment for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix under existing trade agreements, highlighting how bilateral relationships can mitigate tariff impact. However, Chinese companies like SMIC and Huawei are expected to face the full tariff burden, intensifying U.S.-China technology competition. The policy effectively weaponizes America's massive chip consumption market to force manufacturing reshoring, creating winners and losers based on companies' ability to rapidly establish U.S. operations. The semiconductor industry's complex global integration makes the 100% tariff particularly disruptive, as chips often cross multiple borders during production. Taiwan's TSMC, already building Arizona facilities, appears positioned to benefit from the exemption policy, while smaller Asian manufacturers face potential market exclusion. The tariffs could accelerate the fragmentation of global chip supply chains into competing regional blocs, undermining decades of international specialization and potentially raising costs for consumers worldwide. Economic analysts warn that such steep tariffs typically result in higher consumer prices, reduced competition, and potential retaliation from affected countries. Apple shares (NASDAQ:AAPL) surged in premarket trading Thursday, reaching $219.92, up 3.12% from the previous close of $213.25, as investors welcomed the tariff exemption news. The stock had gained 5.09% in Wednesday's regular session following the manufacturing commitment announcement, demonstrating market confidence in Apple's strategic positioning. With a market capitalization of $3.16 trillion, Apple remains one of the world's most valuable companies despite facing headwinds in the artificial intelligence sector. The company's current trading metrics reflect both opportunities and challenges, with a trailing P/E ratio of 32.36 and forward P/E of 26.95, indicating premium valuations that require continued growth to justify investor confidence. Apple's year-to-date performance shows a decline of 14.64% compared to the S&P 500's 7.88% gain, reflecting investor concerns about the company's AI strategy and competitive positioning against rivals like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), both of which have reached $4 trillion market capitalizations. Analysts maintain cautiously optimistic ratings on Apple, with price targets ranging from $175 to $300, and an average target of $233.11. The tariff exemption removes a significant near-term risk factor, but longer-term challenges remain around Apple's AI capabilities and product innovation pipeline. Apple's strong financial position, with $55.37 billion in cash and robust free cash flow of $94.87 billion, provides flexibility to navigate trade uncertainties while investing in growth initiatives. The company's diversified revenue streams and loyal customer base offer defensive characteristics, but success in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence will ultimately determine whether Apple can maintain its premium market position and justify current valuations in an increasingly competitive landscape. *** Looking to start your trading day ahead of the curve?