On the 23rd (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plan to impose a 25% tariff if smartphones are not manufactured in the United States. President Trump specifically mentioned Samsung Electronics while discussing the tariff policy on smartphones.
During a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office that day, President Trump said regarding the plan to impose tariffs on iPhones produced overseas, "There will be more (tariff targets)," adding, "Other corporations that make that product, including Samsung, will be included. It would be unfair otherwise."
President Trump mentioned a conversation with Apple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook on the 15th, stating, "Cook said he was building a factory in India, but I told him it is okay to go to India, but he cannot sell iPhones in the United States without a tariff." President Trump indicated that the imposition of tariffs would likely start around the end of June, explaining, "If corporations build factories here, there will be no tariffs."
Earlier that morning, President Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, "I informed Apple CEO Cook a long time ago that iPhones sold in the United States must be manufactured and produced in the United States, not in India or elsewhere." He added, "If the iPhones are not produced in the U.S., Apple will have to pay at least a 25% tariff." This announcement came shortly after the meeting between President Trump and Cook on the 20th at the White House.
Last month, the Trump administration announced a reciprocal tariff policy targeting countries worldwide, excluding electronic goods such as semiconductors, smartphones, laptops, and monitors. However, Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, noted in a media interview at the time, "The current exemption for electronic products is a temporary measure," stating, "We plan to provide a more comprehensive tariff plan through a national security tariff investigation covering the semiconductor and electronic supply chain within 1 to 2 months."