New Released iMacs Say "Assembled in USA"; Is Apple Bringing Jobs Back to America?

Some of Apple's new iMac computers that went on sale on Friday appear to have been assembled in the United States, unlike most Apple products, which are made in China.

The phrase "Designed by Apple in California" appears engraved on all Apple products, and it's usually followed by the location in which the item was manufactured, e.g., "Assembled in China."

But some new 21.5-inch Apple iMacs are arriving with the phrase "Assembled in USA."

In the past, that phrase has appeared on some custom-made Apple products, usually computers with unusual or upgraded configurations, or refurbished devices that need to be taken apart and put back together.

But the iMacs on which it appears now seem to be off-the-shelf models with no particular special configurations.

Apple has declined to comment on the change, so speculation is rampant.

Using the phrase has legal ramifications, so it isn't just a marketing ploy by Apple. The Federal Trade Commission requires that a substantial portion of the assembly of an item marked "Assembled in USA" must take place in the United States.

"A product that includes foreign components may be called 'Assembled in USA' without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the 'assembly' claim to be valid, the product's last 'substantial transformation' also should have occurred in the U.S. That's why a 'screwdriver' assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn't usually qualify for the 'Assembled in USA' claim."

Example: A lawn mower, composed of all domestic parts except for the cable sheathing, flywheel, wheel rims and air filter (15 to 20 percent foreign content) is assembled in the U.S. An 'Assembled in USA' claim is appropriate.

Example: All the major components of a computer, including the motherboard and hard drive, are imported. The computer's components then are put together in a simple 'screwdriver' operation in the U.S., are not substantially transformed under the Customs Standard, and must be marked with a foreign country of origin. An 'Assembled in U.S.' claim without further qualification is deceptive."

This means that Apple must be putting together at least some of the new iMacs in the U.S. But why?

The company isn't advertising the move, so there must be some economic benefit. Wages in China has grown in the last few years, while American wages have stagnated. Combined with the increased price of fuel, it may cost Apple less to finish manufacturing their products in the US.

Having at least some assembly capability in the country also means Apple can respond more efficiently to custom orders, and even if those facilities aren't fulfilling custom orders all the time, it makes no sense for them to sit idly.

And perhaps, if all other considerations are equal, Apple sees some value in keeping jobs in this country, rather than continuing to outsource its manufacturing capacity overseas. Perhaps.