Amid the US-China trade war, production of numerous Chinese products intended for import into America has been suspended. On April 13th, a securities analyst in China initially reported that Apple's iPhone assembly lines had ceased operations on April 9th with no indication of resumption, sparking widespread online discussion. However, subsequent reports from Chinese media outlets cited supply chain firms as stating the claim was "purely false."

According to multiple sources including both Chinese press and internet information, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced an exemption for tariffs on twenty tech products—such as computers, smartphones, and chips—on April 11th. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities in China commented that this announcement would help ease market concerns but cautioned about the unpredictable nature of tariff policies under the Trump administration.

Kuo had previously stated that iPhone assembly lines dedicated to U.S.-market models ceased operations on April 9th, with no news regarding resumption available at that time. He clarified his earlier statement, emphasizing he did not mean all Chinese production for iPhones was halted; only those specifically intended for the American market were affected.
— Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) April 14, 2025

However, multiple media outlets in China reported on that same day that "relevant supply chain firms" confirmed iPhone assembly lines had not ceased operations and refuted these claims as false.

Following the escalation of the US-China trade war, rumors began circulating regarding a rapid relocation of iPhone production to countries like India. Speculations also arose concerning potential price increases for future iPhones due to increased manufacturing costs.
(Lead image source: Apple)