Latest news with #madeinAmerica
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Mobile: Can the smartphone actually be made in the US?
The Trump Organization is entering the smartphone market with "Trump Mobile": a new US-made phone and plan. However, there is uncertainty about whether the phone can actually be manufactured in the US. Yahoo Finance Technology Editor Dan Howley joins Asking for a Trend with Josh Lipton to break down the details. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend here. President Trump's family's launching a smartphone alongside its own mobile service dubbed Trump Mobile. However, will it follow in Trump's made in America agenda? Yahoo Finance's tech editor Dan Howley joins us now with more. Dan. Yeah, Josh, this is, uh, something that, uh, the Trump family went out and announced yesterday, basically showing off, uh, the idea of this Trump mobile phone plan. Uh, it's basically a virtual mobile network. It's going to ride on what they say is the three major carriers in the US. It includes Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. I've reached out to them. I haven't heard back, uh, yet from any of the carriers on that. Uh, they also announced a new phone that they're calling the T1 phone. This phone, uh, is going to be available for 499, a down payment of $100. They say it'll be available, uh, in September. The big to-do though about this is that it's supposedly made in America. And that would be a big deal because we just don't have very many phone companies that manufacture in America. Uh, in fact, one that I spoke to, uh, is, uh, from Purism. It's the Liberty phone. Uh, it's a specialized phone that's all about security and keeping, uh, separate from big tech, uh, organizations. But that phone sells for $199, uh, sorry, $1,999. Uh, this phone, $4.99, sounds like a great deal. However, a number of experts that I've spoken to have kind of thrown cold water on the idea that it will actually be made in America. In fact, some have pointed out that the phone is eerily similar, uh, to another phone company, uh, their device, the Wingtech Rebel 7, uh, has similar cameras. That phone is a Chinese-made phone. Uh, T-Mobile also sells a version of that called the Rebel 7 under its Metro brand. Uh, that device has a Qualcomm processor. That processor is made in China, so it would take away from that whole made in America thing. Then Eric Trump had actually said during an interview with a conservative YouTube personality, Benny Johnson, that he, uh, eventually all the phones can be built in the United States of America. So, there's kind of mixed signals going on right here. Uh, the one thing that, uh, when I spoke to, uh, the head of Purism, uh, who develops that Liberty phone, said is, it took them 10 years to get to that point, to be able to actually get the phones in the US. And one of the issues was, you know, getting a processor that fits there. They say that all the electronics are built within the US. Uh, the frame for the phone, though, is built in China. Uh, so they make sure to point out that the electronics are all US made and developed. So, you know, something like that, it's taken them years to get to that point. And how much, Dan, did you say he's selling that phone for? $1,999. Their most recent phone. Uh, and so, you know, I think it's one of those things where we're just going to have to wait and see if this phone actually does come out, if it actually is built in the US. Um, right now, you know, you can see what different people are saying online. There's a lot of, uh, you know, show me, you know, rather than, uh, or will this just be vaporware where it's announced and it just never premieres, but they are taking cash for it now as far as those $100 pre-orders. So, we're just going to have to see. But all this again is part of the Trump administration's effort, uh, you know, to push that whole made in America idea. They've said that they're going to place tariffs on Apple or Samsung if they don't start building their phones, uh, in the US. Wow. That's not going to happen. Uh, you know, they'll, I mean, they'll be out of office before they even get facilities up and running. So, it's not something that I think anyone can confidently say would actually happen with Apple and Samsung. I look forward to the Dan Howley review of that phone though. That's what I'm waiting for. Thank you, Dan. Yes, sir.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
The unexpected fallout from Trump's China tariffs
CONNEAUTVILLE, Pennsylvania — The phone keeps ringing in Kevin Lococo's office with the same question from prospective customers: 'Are your products actually made in America?' Yes, Lococo is proud to say. The tables, chairs and dance floors he sells for PS Furniture are made in a little town south of Erie, Pennsylvania. It's been that way since 1919. The company is one of the last remaining U.S. manufacturers of commercial furniture used in schools, offices, convention centers and event venues.
