White House trade advisor Peter Navarro sharply criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday, accusing him of dragging his feet in shifting production out of China.
“Going back to the first Trump term, Tim Cook has continually asked for more time to move factories,” Navarro told CNBC, calling Apple’s China strategy “the longest-running soap opera in Silicon Valley.”
Peter Navarro claims Tim Cook has delayed shifting iPhone production out of China since Trump's first term, citing advanced manufacturing techniques.pic.twitter.com/fvGBf9tNpH
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President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Apple to relocate iPhone production to the United States, warning in May that foreign-made devices could face tariffs of 25 percent or higher. Trump also said he told Cook directly, “I don’t want you building in India.”
Although Apple has expanded some production to India, analysts say relocating entirely to the U.S. is unrealistic. A domestically assembled iPhone could cost over $3,500.
Apple has not commented on Navarro’s remarks. The company has pledged $500 billion in U.S. investments, including assembling Mac Pros and AI servers in Texas.
