Amid the trade tensions between the US and China, companies such as Apple have been exploring strategies to sidestep the steep tariffs imposed by President Trump on imports. A recent report indicated that Apple aimed to broaden its assembly operations in Brazil, and the company has now commenced the assembly of the new iPhone 16e in the region.
iPhone 16e is now assembled in Brazil
According to MacMagazine, Apple has been assembling the iPhone 16e in Brazil from the very beginning. While iPhones have been assembled in Brazil for some time, Apple typically delayed local production of the newest models by several months. This practice appears to have changed.
Consumers who purchased the iPhone 16e in Brazil have observed the label “Assembled in Brazil – Brazilian Industry” on the packaging. This information is corroborated by Apple’s online Brazilian store, where the purchase link for the iPhone 16e includes a model number ending in “BR/A,” signifying that it pertains to products assembled in Brazil. In contrast, iPhones imported from abroad carry the designation “BE/A.”
Documentation from Anatel, the Brazilian telecommunications authority, verifies that the iPhone 16e is being assembled in Brazil, China, and India. In Brazil, the price of an iPhone 16e is around $890. However, retailers are already offering it for about $670, likely due to tariff exemptions for locally produced items. In the US, the starting price is $600.
According to a recent report, Apple is contemplating enhancing the capacity of its Brazilian facilities in collaboration with Foxconn to circumvent US import tariffs on iPhones. Although the US government has introduced certain exclusions from Trump’s tariff measures, a recent document from the White House indicated that tariffs on China could reach as high as 245%. Simultaneously, China has raised tariffs on US products.
On the contrary, products sourced from Brazil face only a 10% tariff, leading Apple to consider importing iPhones from Brazil instead of China. Prior to the implementation of the tariffs, Apple reportedly dispatched multiple flights carrying iPhones and other products from India and China.
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