Trump Warns Apple Against Expanding iPhone Production in India

Trump Warns Apple Against Expanding iPhone Production in India

Doha/Washington: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly advised Apple CEO Tim Cook to halt the company’s expansion of manufacturing facilities in India. Speaking during an official visit to Qatar, Trump revealed that he had a “tough conversation” with Tim Cook, urging him to keep Apple’s production focused within the United States rather than shifting it overseas.

“Apple is building factories all over India, and I told Tim I don’t want them to do that anymore,” Trump stated. He claimed that following the conversation, Apple agreed to increase its manufacturing operations in the U.S.

Trump criticized India for imposing some of the highest import tariffs in the world, which he says make it difficult for American products to compete. However, he added that India has shown a willingness to lower or eliminate these tariffs as part of a potential trade deal.

The former president’s remarks come at a time when Apple is accelerating its efforts to diversify its supply chain away from China. As part of its global strategy, Apple aims to manufacture a significant portion of iPhones for the U.S. market in India by the end of 2025. This shift was prompted by COVID-19 disruptions in China and growing U.S.-China trade tensions.

Currently, most iPhones are assembled in China, with no major smartphone production facility in the United States. In India, Apple’s manufacturing is led by the Taiwanese giant Foxconn in southern India. In addition, Tata Group and Pegatron are also assembling Apple devices and expanding their production capabilities in the region.

According to Bloomberg, Apple produced iPhones worth $22 billion in India during the 12 months ending March 2024 — a nearly 60% increase from the previous year.

Trump’s remarks pose a potential challenge to Apple’s India strategy and could ignite fresh debate over global supply chains, trade policy, and national manufacturing priorities.