Apple has reportedly flown up to 1.5 million iPhones from India to the United States in a dramatic effort to avoid the soaring tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed on Chinese imports.
With 80% of iPhones still produced in China, the tech giant faced a massive challenge after the U.S. introduced a 125% tariff on Chinese-manufactured devices.
In response, Apple has chartered at least six cargo planes, each carrying 100 tons of iPhones, from India to the U.S. since March.
To expedite the process, Apple persuaded Indian customs officials to slash clearance times at Chennai airport from 30 hours to just six — a move that underscores the urgency and financial stakes involved.
If shipped from China under the new tariff regime, the price of an iPhone could exceed £2,700.
In retaliation for the U.S. tariffs, China struck back with its own 84% levy on American imports, intensifying an already escalating trade war that has left global companies like Apple scrambling to protect their supply chains.
Currently, only around 10% of iPhones are made in India.
However, with Trump temporarily freezing further tariff increases for 90 days, India’s export rate to the U.S. dropped from 26% to just 10%, making it a more viable alternative to Chinese production, at least for now.
Speaking on the White House lawn, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged other nations not to retaliate, promising they would “be rewarded.” Trump added that 75 countries had reached out for trade negotiations, prompting the pause. Still, he had dismissed reports of the deal as “fake news” just a day prior, leaving uncertainty over the duration and outcome of the pause.
China, for its part, remains firm. “If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect, and mutual benefit,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, signaling Beijing’s unwillingness to bend.
