- Donald Trump urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop expanding iPhone production in India and focus on U.S. manufacturing instead.
- India recently approved a $435 million Foxconn project to manufacture Apple chips, part of Apple’s efforts to diversify from China.
Apple’s recent decision to import iPhones manufactured in India has sparked concern from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at a business summit in Doha, Trump said he met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him to reconsider the company's growing investment in India.
“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. You can build in India, if you want to take care of India because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world,’” Trump said.
Cook had previously announced Apple’s plans to ramp up iPhone production in India to meet growing demand in the U.S. However, Trump, who has long criticised trade imbalances and tariffs, urged the tech giant to focus on bolstering domestic manufacturing instead.
Although Trump claimed Apple would now be “upping” its production efforts in the U.S., no specific details or timelines were provided.
Earlier this year, Apple revealed plans to invest $500 billion over four years in U.S. manufacturing. The initiative includes setting up new facilities, hiring over 20,000 employees, and launching a manufacturing academy.
Apple has yet to respond to Trump’s recent comments.
Just a day before Trump’s remarks, India approved a $435 million project by Foxconn to produce Apple chips. The move aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to reduce its dependency on Chinese manufacturing and develop a strong alternative in India.
The expansion comes as India positions itself as a key player in global electronics manufacturing, further complicating the geopolitical and economic dimensions of Apple’s production strategy.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
