Trump forces Apple to rethink its India iPhone strategy
U.S. President Donald Trump revealed at a business summit in Doha that he met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him to halt iPhone production expansion in India and instead boost manufacturing in the United States. Trump cited India’s high tariffs as a reason for his request, stating, “I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend, I’ve treated you very good. You’re coming up with $500 billion, but now I hear you are building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.'”
Trump’s comments come after Apple announced plans to spend $500 billion over the next four years to expand U.S. manufacturing by setting up new facilities, hiring over 20,000 people, and opening a manufacturing academy. Trump claimed that Apple would now increase production in the U.S., although he did not provide a timeline or specifics. Apple has not commented on Trump’s statement.
Apple says tariffs will cost $900 million
India has been an increasingly important location for Apple’s manufacturing, with the company already producing 20% of its iPhones there, according to a Bloomberg report in April. The Financial Times also reported that Apple planned to import all iPhones sold in the U.S. from India by 2026. The Indian government recently approved a $435 million Foxconn project to manufacture Apple chips, further solidifying Apple’s plans to ramp up production in the country.
Trump’s tariff policies have been a point of contention globally, and his conversation with Cook highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and other nations on trade issues. India’s high tariffs, in particular, have been a sticking point, with Trump suggesting that Apple should focus on manufacturing in the U.S. instead.