Smartphones may be subject to tariffs

The U.S. government will announce the details of a comprehensive increase in tariffs on Chinese imports on the 13th. With the possibility of targeting products such as the iPhone, the tariff offensive launched by the United States is bound to impact the global supply chain and force suppliers to relocate their production bases.

Nikkei reported that the Trump administration will announce details of additional tariffs on $325 billion of Chinese products on the 13th, with smartphones having the highest total value at $43.2 billion, followed by laptops at $37.5 billion. Digital cameras may also be a target of the United States.

These are high-tech products that are assembled in China with parts from all over the world. Officials from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said that these products were excluded from the previous tariffs because the manufacturers of these products are highly dependent on China and it is difficult to find alternative suppliers.

美国加征关税不仅衝击美国的企业与消费者，也打击亚洲科技业供应链。苹果公司旗下iPhone已成为全球化的象征之一，苹果在全球约有200家供应商，这些厂商供应在中国进行组装的零件。

Foxconn, a major iPhone assembler, said in April that it plans to expand production in India to diversify its supply chain, but it is difficult to build factories in India that can compete with those in China.

Morgan Stanley analysts estimate that if the United States imposes a 25% tariff, the cost of the iPhone XS may increase by about $160. If Apple's performance declines, the United States will be hurt more than China in the end.