Apple is moving some iPad production out of China to Vietnam. The shift will protect the device maker against political interference and supply chain disruption. Both risks are currently elevated in China. Vietnamese companies will not benefit greatly, however.

Apple products, from iPhones to MacBooks, are mostly assembled in China. The tech giant has stuck to this despite years of tensions between the US and China as well as threats of blacklists and punitive tariffs. AirPods have been the exception to the rule. Apple moved mass production of these earbuds to Vietnam in 2020.

Shifting the production of pricier iPads, which account for a third of the global tablet market, would be a much more decisive change. Most parts suppliers are currently in China, close to assembly plants.