Why Apple can't easily move iPhone production to the US: 2,700+ parts, 187 suppliers, 28 countries

In a nutshell: The Trump administration has big ambitions for iPhone production: it wants Apple's handsets to be completely manufactured in the US. But moving production to the United States is a near impossibility for a device whose components come from 187 suppliers in 28 countries. Donald Trump believes the huge tariffs implemented on goods imported from China and other countries will encourage US firms to manufacture their devices domestically. That's easier said than done for a lot of firms, especially Apple, which relies heavily on China for iPhone production. In a deep dive into the iPhone's manufacturing process, the Financial Times writes that new models consist of around 2,700 different parts, and that Apple uses 187 suppliers in 28 countries. China makes most of these components – only 30 Apple suppliers operate entirely outside of the country – though some of the high-end parts are made in Taiwan, and a few key elements are manufactured in South Korea and Japan. There ar ... Read full article.