US President Donald Trump has made it clear he’s not happy with Apple shifting more of its manufacturing to India. He recently said he told Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop expanding in India and focus on the US instead.
Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump said, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. 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.”
He went on to say that India is one of the highest-tariff countries and that it is not easy to sell in the Indian market. Trump also said, “We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves.”
WHY TRUMP WANTS APPLE TO MAKE APPLE IN US
But why is Trump so bothered about Apple’s plans in India?
One of the key ideas during his election campaign was to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. His “Make America Great Again” campaign included a focus on producing goods within the country to create local jobs.
CA (Dr.) Suresh Surana suggests Trump’s remarks align with his “MAGA” focus on boosting US production and jobs.
Key Points:
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Apple’s India production supports “Make in India” and global manufacturing goals
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Trump’s policies prioritize US job creation through local production
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Better solution: India-US partnership could leverage:
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India’s cost advantages
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US design/branding expertise
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Successful Model:
Tech giants like Microsoft/Google grew using:
✓ Indian engineering talent
✓ Cost-efficient operations
Suggested Approach:
Split manufacturing processes between both countries for mutual benefit.
APPLE’S SHIFT TOWARDS INDIA
Apple has been expanding its production in India to reduce its reliance on China. In recent years, the company has been working closely with partners like Foxconn, Pegatron and Tata Electronics to make more iPhones in India.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, Apple reportedly made iPhones worth Rs 1.83 lakh crore (around $22 billion) in India. This was a 60% jump from the previous year. Nearly 15% of all iPhones made by Apple now come from India, and most of them are shipped to the US and other markets.
In March 2025 alone, India exported over 3 million iPhones to the US.
Apple started producing iPhones in India in 2017 with the iPhone SE. Since then, it has expanded its production line to include models like iPhone 12, 13, 14, 14 Plus and 15. In late 2024, Apple also began making its high-end models—iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max—in India. The company even started assembling AirPods in the country recently.
WHY INDIA IS IMPORTANT FOR APPLE
India has become a key part of Apple’s global supply chain. The country offers a large pool of skilled workers and lower labour costs compared to the US or China. Many global companies, including Apple’s supplier Foxconn, have increased investments in India to take advantage of these benefits.
Foxconn has announced that it will invest $1.5 billion in its India unit to support Apple’s growing manufacturing needs.
Moving more production to India also helps Apple reduce risks linked to US-China trade tensions and rising tariffs.
If Apple follows Trump’s suggestion and moves more production to the US, the cost of making iPhones could go up sharply. According to analysts at Bank of America, iPhone prices could rise by as much as 25% due to higher labour costs and the need to build new factories in the US.
This would affect both American and Indian consumers. iPhones could become more expensive, and Apple’s profit margins might take a hit.
Despite Trump’s public comments, Apple seems to have no plans to reduce its investment in India. A recent report by the Economic Times said that Apple executives have assured the government that India remains a major part of the company’s global manufacturing plan.
