Trump tariffs will impact Macs, Apple Watch in just weeks
Starting August 1, President Donald Trump's tariffs will apply to Apple products made in Thailand, including the Mac and Apple Watch.
Thailand is one of at least 14 countries now facing steep tariff rates of up to 40 percent, according to CNBC. On Truth Social, Trump posted screenshots of letters he sent to several nations, including Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, and Tunisia.
This development could pose a challenge for Apple. Both the Mac and Apple Watch are manufactured in Thailand, with the Apple Watch becoming the first Apple product produced there in 2022. The Mac Pro line followed in 2023. So far, Apple has avoided raising prices for U.S. consumers, even as the Trump administration repeatedly wavers between pausing and reviving its broad trade war.
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Trump initially imposed a 36 percent tariff on Thai imports back in April, only to "pause" it shortly after, citing market instability. However, his latest post on Truth Social, shared Monday, July 7, suggests he plans to move forward with the tariffs this time.
In response to months of shifting trade policies, Apple has pledged to expand its US manufacturing infrastructure while also exploring alternative production hubs in countries like India and Vietnam. For context, Chinese imports continue to face the harshest tariffs, reaching as high as 145 percent at one point.
Still, new reports suggest the Trump administration may be open to negotiating lower tariff rates with China over rare earth minerals, though nothing appears certain yet.
Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.
In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].
