Is Trump's 'Made in America' iPhone a fantasy?

President Donald Trump went on the offensive against Apple on May 23, demanding that the company begin making iPhones in the US or pay tariffs of at least 25 percent on iPhones made abroad.

- Tripp Mickle

SAN FRANCISCO -

The ultimatum is the latest in a decade-long push to get the technology giant to move its supply chain. When he first ran for president in 2016, Mr. Trump promised voters that he would "get Apple to start building their (expletive) computers and things in this country instead of other countries."

But instead of bringing its manufacturing home, Apple has shifted production from China to other countries across Asia, including India, Vietnam, and Thailand. Almost nothing is made in America, and an estimated 80 percent of iPhones are still made in China.

COULD APPLE MAKE IPHONES IN THE U.S.? Yes. Apple could make iPhones in the US. But doing so would be expensive, difficult, and force the company to more than double iPhone prices to US$2,000 (S$2,570) or more, said Mr. Wayne Lam, an analyst with TechInsights, a market research firm. Apple would have to buy new machines and rely on more automation than it uses in China because the US population is so much smaller, Mr. Lam said.

"It is absurd," Mr. Lam said. "In the short term, it's not economically feasible."

There would be some benefits to moving the supply chain, including reducing the environmental costs of shipping products from abroad, said Mr. Matthew Moore, who spent nine years as a manufacturing design manager at Apple. But the upsides would be trivial compared to the challenges that would have to be overcome.