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Posts tagged with "tariffs"

Apple to Make Mac minis in the U.S.

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple announced today that it is expanding its manufacturing operations in Houston, Texas where it will make Mac minis. The company also said it will expand its AI server production and training in Houston later this year. The announcement is unsurprising given the Trump administration’s plan to impose a new 10% global tariff on non-exempt imports to the U.S. in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that prior tariffs were unconstitutional.

In Apple’s press release, CEO Tim Cook was quoted as saying:

Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we’re proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of Mac mini starting later this year. We began shipping advanced AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and we’re excited to accelerate that work even further.

If you’re curious about what Apple and its suppliers are building in the U.S., The Wall Street Journal has a behind-the-scenes look at the supply chain taking shape in Texas and Arizona. It’s a massive undertaking that will cost billions of dollars and years to build, but it’s a tangible sign of progress that’s part of the $600 billion previously pledged to be spent on U.S. manufacturing.

Apple Expands Its U.S. Manufacturing Commitment

In February, Apple announced plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Today, that commitment was increased to $600 billion. In the company’s press release, Tim Cook said:

Today, we’re proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program. This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we’re grateful to the President for his support.

One of the first deals announced is an expansion of Apple’s relationship with Corning to make all cover glass for the iPhone and Apple Watch at a Corning plant in Kentucky. That deal is part of what Apple calls its American Manufacturing Program, in which Coherent, GlobalWafers America (GWA), Applied Materials, Texas Instruments (TI), Samsung, GlobalFoundries, Amkor, and Broadcom will also participate. Apple says the program builds on its deal to buy rare earth magnets from MP Materials, a July 2025 deal that was announced shortly after the unusual sale of $400 million of MP Materials’ preferred stock to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Apple continues to be under a lot of political pressure to make its devices in the U.S., despite its prior financial commitments to make components in America. Another $100 billion over four years is a lot, but I suspect this won’t be enough. Instead, I expect we’ll see more of this type of announcement, given how quickly the first half a trillion was followed by another $100 billion.