iPhone Shipments from China to U.S. Plunge 72% Amid Tariffs, Apple Doubles Down on India

Shipments of iPhones and other mobile devices from China to the U.S. dropped sharply in April, marking their lowest point since 2011, according to newly released data from China's General Administration of Customs, reported by Bloomberg. U.S. imports of smartphones from China plummeted 72% year-over-year, totaling just under $700 million for the month.

The drop is far more severe than the 21% overall decline in Chinese exports to the U.S., underlining how high-value tech goods are being hit hardest by intensifying U.S. tariffs.

Tariffs Crank Up Pressure on Apple and Others

At the heart of the issue are U.S. tariffs, some reaching up to 145%, targeting a broad range of Chinese imports. These levies—implemented under the Trump administration and still being enforced—are pressuring tech companies to rethink where their products are made.

The trade friction is already shifting global supply chains, particularly for Apple. While China has long been the company’s primary manufacturing hub, Apple is now making major investments in India, both to avoid tariffs and to spread risk.

India: The Rising Star in Apple’s Supply Chain

Customs data confirms this pivot. The value of phone components exported from China to India has quadrupled over the past year, reflecting Apple’s aggressive expansion of iPhone assembly operations in India. This supports Apple’s strategy to reduce dependency on China while still maintaining access to affordable manufacturing and skilled labor.

India’s growing role in Apple’s ecosystem comes at a time when Beijing is accusing the U.S. of sabotaging trade discussions, particularly around Huawei’s access to AI chips. These geopolitical tensions are feeding uncertainty, not only in the tech industry but across the entire $690 billion U.S.-China trade relationship.

Washington’s Call to “Build in America”

Amid this shift, President Trump has publicly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to bring iPhone production to the U.S. While the sentiment aligns with broader efforts to revive American manufacturing, Apple has never mass-produced iPhones domestically, and doing so would require an enormous investment in labor, infrastructure, and supply chains.

Experts suggest that while some components or final assembly could eventually be U.S.-based, full-scale production stateside remains unlikely in the near term.

What This Means Going Forward

With Apple diversifying aggressively into India and tariffs putting immense pressure on China-origin goods, the smartphone supply chain is clearly entering a new phase. U.S. consumers could feel the impact through higher prices, while tech companies are being forced to make long-term strategic decisions about where and how their products are made.

As global trade tensions continue to simmer, Apple’s balancing act between cost, efficiency, and political pressure is becoming more complex than ever.