Apple May Move IPhone Production In The US As Long As There Are Advanced Robots

Illustration of the iPhone (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Apple may consider moving its device production to the United States (US) to avoid Donald Trump's new tariff.

However, in a recent interview with CNBC International, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that this possibility could be realized if the US had advanced robots.

In particular, Cook says that Apple needs access to robots with arms that can manage the larger scale and precision needed to produce iPhones.

"I need to have a robotic arm to do it on scales and precision that lets me bring it here," Cook quoted Android Headlines as saying.

Previously, Apple had reportedly planned to produce most of the iPhones sold in the United States in India by the end of 2026. This project replaces China as the main production base.

According to sources speaking to Reuters, Apple has held urgent talks with major contract manufacturers Foxconn and Tata to achieve this goal.

In April 2025, the US government imposed a 26% tariff on goods from India, much lower than the more than 100% tariff imposed on goods from China.

Foxconn and Tata, Apple's two main suppliers in India, currently own three factories in India, with two other factories under construction to expand production capacity.

Apple hopes that with its production diversification to India, the company can reduce its dependence on China in meeting US market demand, especially amid trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.