Trump Urges Apple to Stop Making iPhones in India
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over Apple’s growing manufacturing presence in India. During a recent statement, he said he’s not happy with Apple CEO Tim Cook’s decision to build iPhones outside the United States, particularly in India.
“Build in the U.S., Not India,” Trump Says
Trump openly criticized Apple’s move to shift more of its iPhone production to India. “He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump said, referring to Tim Cook. He made it clear that he wants major U.S. companies like Apple to bring jobs back to American soil.
This comes as India offers zero tariffs on U.S. goods to attract companies like Apple, but Trump appears more focused on boosting U.S. manufacturing, regardless of these benefits.
India Becomes a Key Hub for Apple’s Production
India is becoming increasingly important for Apple. In 2024 alone, Apple made iPhones worth $22 billion in India. The company uses factories run by partners like Foxconn, Tata, and Pegatron. Apple even plans to make all iPhones for the U.S. market in India by 2026.
This shift is part of a bigger plan to rely less on China, especially as trade tensions and tariffs continue to grow between the U.S. and China.
Apple Rushes Shipments to Avoid New Tariffs
Following Trump’s recent announcement of new tariffs on Chinese imports, Apple quickly shipped 600 tons of iPhones from India to the U.S. The goal was to avoid paying extra fees and protect profits.
Experts say making iPhones in the U.S. would be very expensive, and the cost of devices could triple if production were moved from countries like India.
Experts Say Moving All Production to U.S. Isn’t Practical
While Trump wants Apple to move production back home, many industry analysts say it’s not realistic. The infrastructure, cost, and supply chains needed for such a massive shift are not yet in place in the U.S.
Apple hasn’t publicly responded to Trump’s recent comments, but it’s clear the company is betting big on India’s future in tech manufacturing.
Image source: Business Insider
