Donald Trump pressure extracts $100bn Apple investment pledge

Apple plans to boost investment in the US by another $100bn (£75bn) as the tech giant comes under pressure from President Donald Trump.

The White House said the money would be used to encourage firms to make more Apple parts in the US and would add to the company’s previous pledge to spend $500bn in the US over four years.

It comes after Trump singled out Apple by name earlier this year, threatening to raise tariffs on its products if it did not move iPhone manufacturing to the US.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook last week referenced the company’s earlier commitment and said it was looking to “do more” as it tries to avoid a wave of tariffs poised to hit its products.

During a formal announcement at the White House on Wednesday, the president said that as part of the investment, Apple would “massively” increase spending on its domestic supply chain, including by creating new data centres across the country and building a smart glass production line in Harrisburg, Kentucky that will be used in iPhones and smartwatches.

Trump lauded the company for shifting production to the US and said they would be avoiding a 100% tariff that he was planning on chips and semiconductors. He did not offer more details on the new tariff plan, but said other companies could similarly avoid the taxes if they invest in the US.

Standing alongside Trump, Mr Cook, who personally donated $1m to Trump’s inaugural committee, said the company’s initial $500bn domestic investment was “already yielding results”.

The new funding “will spur even more production right here in America for critical components used in Apple products all around the world”, the CEO said.

Mr Cook also presented Trump with a glass statue, which he assembled in the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk.

Analysts said any significant change to Apple’s supply chain would take time, but the company’s promise might help it win lighter treatment from the White House, given Trump’s focus on increasing business investments in the US.

Shares surged more than 5% on Wednesday after the news.

In a statement on Wednesday, the White House said the firm’s latest pledge was a sign that Trump’s policies were convincing companies to put more money into the US.

“Today’s announcement with Apple is another win for our manufacturing industry that will simultaneously help reshore the production of critical components to protect America’s economic and national security,” a White House spokesperson said.

Apple has long made the bulk of its products in China.

It avoided duties during Trump’s first term after agreeing to invest more in America, in announcements that it coordinated with the White House.

But it has been scrambling since Trump launched a new tariff war in January, announcing an additional 30% levy on Chinese-made goods.

Apple has responded to changes by reworking its supply chain, shipping goods to the US primarily from India and Vietnam, which face lower tariffs on their exports.

But the company still paid out more than $800m in new border taxes on its products over the three months ended in June, reflecting Trump’s sweeping global so-called reciprocal tariffs, which have been in place since April.

It is expecting to pay another $1.1bn in coming months, despite exemptions from the measures that the White House granted to certain electronics in April.

With tariffs on Indian-made goods now set to ramp up to 50%, it has raised tariff worries.

On a call with investors, Mr Cook emphasised Apple’s involvement in the US, and its longstanding strategy of working with “third parties” to make investments.

He pointed to its previously announced plans to launch a “manufacturing academy” in Michigan, as well its pledge to buy $500m in rare earth magnets from MP Materials, which is working to expand production of rare earths in the US. The US government has taken a stake in that company as well, while committing to a minimum price for its output.

Since his return to office, Trump has often promoted high-profile commitments of investments by firms like Apple. Analysts say the numbers he uses often appear exaggerated and there is no evidence yet of a wider trend.

Paolo Pescatore, founder of PP Foresight, praised Mr Cook for deft navigation of Apple through “turbulent times” but said it remained to be seen what the investment would mean for the many different pieces that go into Apple devices and where they are produced.

“Certainly if you look at the case today, it’s impossible to think now everything could just suddenly be produced, manufactured and put together in the US overnight,” he said.