U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines during his visit to Qatar by publicly stating that he asked Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand iPhone production in India.
“He [Cook] is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump said at a business roundtable in Doha, adding that Apple will instead increase production within the United States.
Trump’s comments come despite India rapidly emerging as a major iPhone manufacturing hub. In the last financial year, Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India—60% more than the previous year—via Foxconn and Tata Group facilities.
The statement also follows Trump’s continued criticism of India’s trade practices. He accused India of maintaining “one of the highest tariff barriers in the world,” claiming it’s extremely difficult to sell U.S. goods in the country.
Apple has been diversifying its supply chain away from China due to geopolitical tensions and pandemic-related disruptions.
Trump’s protectionist stance and tariff war with China earlier led Apple to consider India as a strategic alternative.
However, with the U.S. and China recently striking a new trade deal, Trump appears to be redirecting focus toward domestic manufacturing once again.
Trump’s remarks could strain India-U.S. trade talks, which are ongoing amid a temporary 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.
