Apple took urgent steps in late March 2025 to dodge a new wave of U.S. tariffs by flying in five cargo planes filled with iPhones and other products from China and India, according to The Times of India.
The emergency shipments were reportedly made over three days to ensure Apple's U.S. warehouses are stocked before the 10% tariff, effective April 5, and additional increases take effect April 9.
With the Trump administration imposing sweeping import tariffs—54% on Chinese goods, 46% on Vietnamese, and 26% on Indian imports—Apple's move allows the company to maintain stable prices for at least the next few months. A source told The Times of India that the advance shipments will “temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments.”
Most of Apple’s products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, are manufactured in Asia. Avoiding the tariff for now could delay significant price hikes, which analysts say could push the cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max as high as $2,300, compared to its current $1,599 price tag.
Apple is not alone in its rush to beat the tariff deadline—Nintendo also reportedly made massive early shipments of the Switch 2 to avoid added costs.
Apple has yet to comment publicly, but the company’s Q2 earnings call on May 1 may reveal more about the long-term impact of the tariffs and how Apple plans to navigate rising trade tensions.
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