President Donald Trump made it clear Wednesday he doesn’t need Apple to fabricate its merchandise in India.
“I don’t need you constructing in India,” Trump reportedly instructed Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner throughout a cellphone name Wednesday.
Trump sad with Apple’s Make in India method
Since getting into workplace in early 2025, Trump’s been steadily coaxing corporations to extend their U.S. manufacturing presence. His tariff warfare with China worsened issues for corporations with manufacturing amenities within the nation.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tariff warfare between the USA and China, Apple has diversified its provide chain to India in recent times. Apple deliberate to maneuver the manufacturing of all iPhones offered in the USA to its factories in India by the tip of 2026 to keep away from the impact of reciprocal tariffs. To realize this purpose, the corporate requested its companions to construct or broaden their manufacturing presence within the nation.
This technique didn’t go down nicely with Trump.
“I had just a little drawback with Tim Cook dinner yesterday. I stated to him, ‘My pal, I handled you superb. You’re coming right here with $500 billion, however now I hear you’re constructing throughout India.” I don’t need you constructing in India,” Trump instructed the press in Qatar whereas discussing the USA’ commerce relations with India (through CNBC).
Trump desires Apple to construct merchandise in the USA, not in India. Following his dialogue with Cook dinner, Trump stated Apple will increase “their manufacturing in the USA.”
India is prepared to drop import duties for U.S. merchandise
Earlier this yr, Apple introduced a file $500 billion funding in the USA over the subsequent 4 years. As a part of this, the corporate will broaden its manufacturing presence within the nation, which can contain opening a complicated manufacturing facility in Houston to make servers for Apple Intelligence.
When the United States slapped a reciprocal tariff on international locations it trades with in early April, it went comparatively gentle on India, solely imposing a 26% tariff. Whereas the Trump administration suspended the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, it’s just for 90 days whereas each international locations work out a deal. Trump says the Indian authorities provided to drop all import duties on U.S.-made merchandise.
