Apple has announced a major expansion of its industrial ambitions in the U.S., unveiling a new $100 billion investment to strengthen domestic manufacturing and supplier partnerships — a move that will help it avoid planned high tariffs on imported chips and devices.
This announcement, presented alongside former President Donald Trump, raises Apple’s total U.S. investment commitment to $600 billion over the next four years. The plan comes at a time when Trump is threatening to impose 100% tariffs on imported computer chips but offers exemptions to companies that commit to domestic production.
The deal appears mutually beneficial — Trump gains a politically significant win for his trade agenda, while Apple secures its operations against potential trade barriers. Part of the plan includes $2.5 billion to ensure that every piece of glass for iPhones and Apple Watches is produced by the U.S.-based company Corning, as well as signing multi-year contracts with domestic chip manufacturers.
However, despite the massive investment, Apple does not plan to fully relocate iPhone assembly to the U.S. — final device production will, at least for now, remain largely overseas, while domestic manufacturing will focus on components, glass, chips, and building data centers. Nvidia, Intel, and IBM have also announced major domestic investments prompted by tariff pressures.
In Brief: Tech World Highlights
- Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company, received approval from U.S. regulators to operate its electric robotaxi without a steering wheel on public roads.
- Kyle Vogt, CEO of The Bot Company, believes home robots have huge potential but argues that tasks like laundry and dishwashing are not the right place to start.
- Researchers have developed a thin robotic actuator inspired by muscles that mimics human movement, paving the way for robots capable of delicate surgical procedures.
- Coco Robotics is partnering with Prime Video to turn its delivery robots in Los Angeles into mobile billboards for movie promotions.
- More than 100 robotic products, nearly double last year’s number, will be showcased at the 2025 World Robotics Conference in Beijing from August 8 to 12.
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