President-Elect Trump Could Offer Incentives To Apple For Building iPhones State Side

Trump has also made Apple — one of the world’s most profitable companies — a target of his attacks. “I was saying, make America great again, and I actually think we can say now, and I really believe this, we're gonna get things coming,” said Trump in January. “We're gonna get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country, instead of in other countries.”

It is now coming to light that Apple CEO Tim Cook called to congratulate Trump on his presidential victory, and the topic of iPhone production was brought up during the conversation.

“I got a call from Tim Cook at Apple, and I said, ‘Tim, you know one of the things that will be a real achievement for me is when I get Apple to build a big plant in the United States, or many big plants in the United States, where instead of going to China, and going to Vietnam, and going to the places that you go to, you’re making your product right here,’” said Trump while speaking with the New York Times.

Cook allegedly acknowledged Trump’s desire to bring those manufacturing jobs back home. But how exactly would Trump make that happen? “I think we’ll create the incentives for you, and I think you’re going to do it. We’re going for a very large tax cut for corporations, which you’ll be happy about.”

We reported a week ago that Apple has studied the possibility of bringing at least some iPhone production back to the Unites States. Apple supplier Pegatron immediately shot down the idea, citing unsurmountable costs related to American assembly plants. Foxconn also declined to pursue any action, with a source close to the company stating, “Making iPhones in the U.S. means the cost will more than double.”

It remains to be seen if tax cuts and incentives alone would be enough to lessen the cost gap between producing iPhones in Asia versus the United States.