Trump effect: why the next time you buy an iPhone you could pay much more for it?

The price of iPhone in the coming months could rise by about $300 in the United States, estimates the Washington Postif the government of Donald Trump, who will take office as president of the United States next January, imposes its policy of tariffs on imports from China.

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump announced that it was his firm intention to impose import tariffs on products that come from outside the United States, and mainly from China.one more stage of the commercial dispute between the two countries, which has been going on for several years; In fact, in his first presidency, Donald Trump defined in 2019 a blacklist of Chinese technology companies with which American companies could not do business (with Huawei at the head); At that time, Trump was already talking about tariffs, but he did not impose them, partly at the request of Tim Cook, who managed to persuade the government officials at the time that tariffs would increase the final price of the products; Other products, such as bicycles or washing machines, must pay an import tariff.

Up to 30 percent extra

Now there is an expectation that it will actually do so, he clarifies. As a candidate, Trump mentioned his intention to impose a tariff of 60% or more on everything coming from China; to become effective, Apple could absorb part of that cost (on account of its comfortable profit margins)but a part will end up being transferred to the price; Experts consulted by the Washington Post estimate that would mean paying an additional 30% on the price of the equipmentso an iPhone that today has a price in the United States of $1,000 would cost $1,300.

Europe and the rest of Asia

Its competitors, led by Samsung, could avoid the tariff by importing equipment that comes from other countries; Apple also has that option, at least potentially: They have had plants in India to manufacture iPhones for a couple of yearswhich would not be affected by this potential extra payment to enter goods into the country. For Apple, there is also the danger that China will take some type of retaliation that makes Apple equipment more expensive in Chinese territory, a fundamental market for the company. In 2023, the Chinese government banned the use of iPhones by public officials.

The idea of ​​import tariffs is not exclusive to Trump: the government of the current president, Joe Biden, imposed a 100% tariff on electric cars last September (a decision similar to the one made two weeks ago by the European Union, which imposes import duties of more than 35% on Chinese electric cars). The US government also imposes a 50% tariff on semiconductors, such as those used in solar panels. Last Monday the Chinese government filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over European tariffs.

If this tariff war is imposed, it could give a greater boost to several Asian countries that are emerging as an alternative to China, with lower salaries for workers and – now – less conflictive trade relations.