Trump says Samsung to face 25% tariff on phones sold in the US

The US tariff uncertainty has complicated matters for companies like Samsung that manufacture products in various countries and sell them in the United States. They're meant to encourage these companies to set up their manufacturing plants in the country so that products sold in the US are made in the US.

Speaking to reporters in the White House, President Trump said today that Samsung would face 25% tariffs on phones sold in the United States if it doesn't make them in the country.

Earlier today, President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that “a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US” if iPhones sold in the US aren't built in the country. Apple is in no position to do that immediately, as the bulk of its iPhone manufacturing is done in China and India.

Trump later added during remarks to reporters at the White House that a 25% tariff would also be imposed on Samsung and any other phone maker that builds their devices out of the US or “it would not be fair,” he said. Like Apple, Samsung is also in no position to immediately shift production of its US-bound phones to the country.

Back when the tariffs were originally announced Vietnam, where Samsung phones are made for export across the globe, was slapped with a higher rate than India. While the tariffs were later paused, it emerged that Samsung would export devices to the US from its factory in India because the country had a lower tariff rate. Apple was also reportedly considering using India to export iPhones to the US.

The US is working out trade deals individually with every country and while that may have benefitted companies like them, if the President is now considering company-level tariffs, the arbitrage that Samsung and Apple may have tried to run would no longer be effective.