Apple Rushes Five Planes of iPhones to US Ahead of New Tariffs [Report]

Apple transported five planes full of iPhones and other products from India to the US in just three days during the last week of March, according to a new report from The Times of India. The move came as the company scrambled to beat a new 10% reciprocal tariff imposed by the Trump administration, which kicked in on April 5. A senior Indian official confirmed the shipments to the outlet, highlighting Apple's efforts to dodge the financial hit.

The rush to stockpile inventory stemmed from manufacturing hubs in India and China, with Apple aiming to soften the tariff's blow. "Factories in India and China and other key locations had been shipping products to the US in anticipation of the higher tariffs," a source told The Times of India. Despite the late-March timing, typically a quieter period for shipping, the company moved quickly to get goods into US warehouses before the deadline.

This strategy lets Apple hold off on price hikes for now. "The reserves that arrived at lower duty will temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments under the revised tax rates," the same source explained. US warehouses are now stocked for several months, buying the company some breathing room. Still, any future price adjustments would likely ripple beyond the US. "Any price hike to offset this impact cannot be limited to just the US market, but will have to be taken across key global regions, including India," the source added.

India's role in Apple's supply chain is growing more critical amid these shifts. With the US set to impose a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian exports starting April 9—compared to a steeper 54% on Chinese goods—Apple gains a clear cost advantage by leaning on its Indian operations. The company already dominates India's smartphone exports to the US, valued at nearly $9 billion, thanks to its focus on iPhone and AirPod production there.

The tariff gap, a hefty 28 percentage points, underscores why India could become a cornerstone for Apple's manufacturing. For now, Apple's stockpiling keeps its pricing steady, but the company is still weighing how global tariff structures will shape its next moves.

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