Elementary, My Dear iPhone: The Implausible Quest for a 'Made in the USA' Device

The Presidential Pipe Dream

The game Mrs. Hudson is afoot! Or rather the iPhone is afoot and the question is whether it can be made in America. It appears President Obama bless his heart once inquired of the late Steve Jobs about this very notion. Jobs a man not known for mincing words (a trait I find rather endearing if I may say so myself) essentially told him the idea was bunkum. Fast forward to our current state of affairs and President Trump armed with 'reciprocal tariffs,' believes it possible. It reminds me of the time Inspector Lestrade declared he'd solved the case before even bothering to look for footprints. Confidence is admirable but evidence my dear readers is paramount.

The Costly Conundrum: A Financial Fiasco?

The crux of the matter as always boils down to money. Bank of America analysts suggest a 'Made in the USA' iPhone 16 Pro could see a 25% price hike due to labor costs alone pushing it to a princely $1,500. Others more dramatically posit a $3,500 price tag! It seems even the most ardent Apple enthusiast might balk at such a figure. One begins to suspect that such pricing might necessitate selling one's Baker Street flat just to keep up with the latest technology. As I always say 'It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.'

The Workforce Woes: Where Have All the Tooling Engineers Gone?

Ah the workforce. Apple's Tim Cook astutely points out a critical deficiency: a lack of tooling engineers in America. Apparently a gathering of such specialists in China could fill 'multiple football fields,' whereas in the U.S. one might struggle to populate a cricket pitch! This reminds me of the time I sought a specific type of tobacco only to find it utterly unavailable in London. Sometimes the simplest ingredients are the hardest to acquire. A lack of the right people makes a job a non starter.

The Foxconn Fiasco: A Wisconsin Whimper

The saga of Foxconn's promised investment in Wisconsin is a cautionary tale a veritable 'study in scarlet' of broken promises and unrealized dreams. President Trump announced a $10 billion investment that never quite materialized settling instead on the production of face masks rather than cutting edge electronics. The factory created a mere fraction of the jobs promised leaving a trail of disappointment like a poorly laid crime scene. It is what it is.

Tariffs and Tribulations: A Global Game of Chess

Even if we could assemble iPhones in America we still face the daunting prospect of tariffs on the myriad components sourced from around the globe. The processor comes from Taiwan the display from South Korea and the bulk of the remaining parts from China. Each component subject to tariffs. Such a scenario resembles a complex chess game where every move incurs a penalty. As I always say “Data! Data! Data! I can’t make bricks without clay!” We can't manufacture iPhones without the parts.

Cook's Charm Offensive: A Diplomatic Dance

Unlike Jobs's blunt refusal Tim Cook has opted for a more diplomatic approach engaging with President Trump and announcing significant investments within the U.S. This charm offensive it seems has yielded some temporary exemptions from tariffs. One suspects Cook understands the art of flattery a tactic I occasionally employ myself when dealing with the more… obtuse members of Scotland Yard. As I say 'You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.'