US President Donald Trump has urged Apple Inc. CEO Timothy Cook to reconsider the company’s manufacturing expansion in India, advocating instead for increased production in the United States. The directive, delivered during a business event in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025, underscores Trump’s broader push to bring American companies’ manufacturing back home amid ongoing trade tensions.
Trump’s remarks come at a time when Apple has significantly ramped up its operations in India, a key part of its strategy to diversify its supply chain away from China. The president criticized India’s high tariff barriers, which he described as among the world’s steepest, making it challenging for American companies to penetrate the Indian market. “I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good. You are coming up with $500 billion, but now I hear you are building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump stated. He suggested that Apple’s investments should prioritize the US, where he believes the company has been treated favorably despite its extensive operations in China for years
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Apple’s manufacturing footprint in India has grown substantially in recent years. The company currently operates three plants—two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka—with plans for two additional facilities. In the last fiscal year, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India, a 60% increase from the previous year. This expansion aligns with Apple’s goal to produce all iPhones for the US market in India by the end of 2026, a move driven by the need to mitigate risks from US-China trade disputes and China’s high tariffs
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Trump also claimed that India has proposed a deal to eliminate tariffs on US goods, stating, “They’ve offered us a deal where basically they’re literally willing to charge us no tariff.” However, no official confirmation of such an offer has emerged from Indian authorities, casting uncertainty over the claim. The Indian government has remained silent on Trump’s remarks, and no immediate response has been issued by Apple or Cook regarding the president’s directive .
The backdrop to Trump’s statement is a complex web of trade negotiations between the US and India. Sources indicate that discussions are ongoing, with both nations working toward mutually beneficial agreements. These talks have gained urgency following recent tit-for-tat tariff threats, including India’s consideration of retaliatory duties in response to US tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum exports. Trump’s push to redirect Apple’s investments reflects his broader economic nationalism, a hallmark of his administration’s trade policy, which seeks to bolster domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign production
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India’s emergence as a manufacturing hub for Apple has been a boon for its economy, creating jobs and positioning the country as a viable alternative to China for global tech giants. The company’s operations, primarily through partnerships with Foxconn Technology Group and the Tata Group, have strengthened India’s role in the global supply chain. However, Trump’s remarks introduce uncertainty into Apple’s long-term plans, potentially complicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, which aims to attract foreign investment and boost domestic manufacturing.
As trade talks progress, the implications of Trump’s directive remain unclear. Apple’s strategic shift toward India was partly a response to earlier US tariff pressures on Chinese-made goods, yet Trump’s latest stance could force the company to reassess its global manufacturing strategy. For now, the tech giant and Indian officials have yet to publicly address the president’s comments, leaving observers to speculate on the future of Apple’s ambitious plans in India and the broader US-India trade relationship.