Apple Supplier Forecasts Product Shortages in US Amid Tariff Chaos

Apple supplier Pegatron has warned that U.S. stores could face "empty shelves" within two months due to ongoing uncertainty around tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

iphone 15 series store
Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung told Reuters that the on-again, off-again nature of the levies has created confusion for U.S. retailers and disrupted supply chain decisions.

"Within two months, shelves in the United States might resemble those in third-world countries, where people visit department stores and markets only to find empty shelves, all because everyone is waiting and seeing," Tung said.

The Taiwan-based manufacturer, which assembles MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches, explained that U.S. importers are hesitant to ramp up shipments during the current tariff pause because they're uncertain whether the 10% levy might eventually be repealed.

This comes after the Trump administration recently paused some tariffs targeting countries where Pegatron has manufacturing bases, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. However, a 10% levy on nearly all goods imported into the U.S. remains in effect.

Despite the challenges, Tung said that Pegatron won't alter its long-term manufacturing plans based on short-term tariff fluctuations.

"Just because Trump raises tariffs doesn't mean the rest of the world will do the same. Taiwanese contract manufacturers are sticking to their overseas plans," he said. "We won't immediately adjust our long-term plans just because of two or three months of tariff changes."

Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly had a phone call with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to explain how tariffs would cause iPhone prices to increase. Cook's efforts appeared to pay off when the Trump administration exempted iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches, iPads, and other electronics from the bulk of tariffs on Chinese goods.

However, the exemption may only be temporary. The day after the announcement, Trump stated that there was "no tariff exception" and that no one would be "getting off the hook," suggesting that Apple and other tech companies will be "moving to a different tariff bucket."

Apple has been diversifying its manufacturing locations away from China since Trump's first term, and has recently ramped up plans to build out its iPhone manufacturing base in India and manufacture U.S.-bound devices in the country by the end of 2026.

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Top Rated Comments

SW3029 Avatar
22 weeks ago
This is what you get when you elect a low-IQ individual to lead your country and he staffs government with other low-IQ individuals.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
22 weeks ago

Negative. We buy all their stuff. And that adds up to way more than the US bonds they hold. It would be a mess for both sides but definitely a larger mess for China.
Naa, the world buys all their stuff. The US is not the world, despite what it believes.

They aren't going to capitulate to Trump's shenanigans and bullying. Sometimes when a toddler throws a tantum, you let them roll around in the dirt.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anakin44011 Avatar
22 weeks ago
MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches will be the least of our worries. Anyone remember 2020 or 2022 and how long it took to recover interrupted supply chains? Roll that into one event and double it...and it still won't describe the latter half of 2025. Brace yourself. This 'bull whip effect' could last many, many months.

Unless you live outside the US...in which case, you'll just have a recession.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spooner83 Avatar
22 weeks ago
43 months to go as of today, can't wait til' he's gone. Please, for the love of all reality, vote blue in the midterms!
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jblank Avatar
22 weeks ago

43 months to go as of today, can't wait til' he's gone. Please, for the love of all reality, vote blue in the midterms!
They do stupid stuff too, just different stupid stuff, and are beholden to the crazies on their side. What we need is for populism on both extreme ends of our political spectrum to disappear and for some semblance of economic and social sanity to return.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
22 weeks ago

The fed was late, but once they realized that they raised rates and inflation dropped as quickly as it went up. Powell had just about engineered the mythical soft landing until Trump came in and pulled the rug out from under him with the tariffs.
Correct.

This destruction is all about EXTREME narcissism where Trump refuses to have any single thing happening that's good ... that he doesn't get to take credit for.

Trump is one the worst human beings we've ever seen in public life.

An absolutely broken and horrendous human being.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)