Apple’s Success Code: A SWOT Analysis Based on Brand Advantage and Global Supply Chain

Abstract

Against the backdrop of global economic integration and volatile international trade regimes, multinational technology firms confront challenges such as tariff hikes, supply chain restructuring, and cross-border policy disparities. This study employs SWOT analysis to explore how Apple’s strengths mitigate trade barriers, how trade tensions exacerbate its weaknesses, and how globalization creates opportunities or poses threats. The reason why Apple was selected as the research object is because its representativeness in global value chains, distinct competitive advantages, and urgent strategic dilemmas. Findings indicate that Apple’s core competitiveness lies in its brand, supply chain, and iOS ecosystem, yet trade frictions amplify its operational and policydependent weaknesses; it needs to balance short-term supply chain resilience/policy compliance with long-term “premium+emerging” dual growth engines and sustainable ecosystems. Theoretically, this study extends the SWOT framework by embedding macro trade variables; practically, it offers strategic references for multinational enterprises and emerging market firms navigating volatile trade landscapes.