Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) saw a sharp drop in shipments of iPhones and other mobile devices from China to the United States in April, with the total value of exports falling to their lowest level since 2011. The steep decline appears to underscore growing strain from the ongoing trade conflict between the two global superpowers.

According to data released Tuesday, Chinese smartphone exports to the U.S. plunged by 72% year-over-year in April, totaling just under $700 million. This slump far outpaced the 21% overall decline in China’s exports to the U.S., suggesting that U.S. tariff threats are having a particularly strong impact on high-tech goods like mobile devices.

Tensions flared recently after the U.S. hiked import tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods to as much as 145%. In response, China retaliated with its own tariffs reaching up to 125%. Although both sides agreed to temporarily pause the tariff escalation in a move toward easing tensions, signs of friction remain – especially following U.S. sanctions targeting Chinese AI chipmakers like Huawei, which China claims undermined recent trade discussions in Switzerland.

The broader U.S.–China trade relationship remains significant, with total trade in 2024 valued at $690 billion. Smartphones, laptops, and lithium-ion batteries were among the top Chinese exports to the U.S. last year, while the U.S. primarily exported commodities like soybeans and liquefied petroleum gas.

Amid the uncertainty, global supply chains are starting to shift. China’s customs data show that exports of mobile phone components to India have surged, nearly quadrupling in value over the past year. India has emerged as Apple’s key production hub outside of China, and it is playing an increasingly central role in the company’s manufacturing strategy.

In April, Apple’s suppliers in India exported a record $2 billion worth of iPhones to the U.S., according to Reuters. To meet demand, the company even arranged dedicated air shipments, transporting over 600 tons of devices from India.

Despite these efforts, political rhetoric continues to muddy the waters. Former President Donald Trump recently claimed he urged Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture iPhones in India, asserting that the country “can take care of themselves.”

Apple stock price