Trump criticizes Apple’s India plans during business summit
Doha, Qatar – In a pointed remark that could rattle international trade relations and technology supply chains, U.S. President Donald Trump told Apple CEO Tim Cook that he does not want the tech giant expanding its manufacturing operations in India. Speaking at a business event in Doha on Wednesday, Trump asserted that India “can take care of themselves” and emphasized that Apple should instead focus on bolstering production within the United States.
“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,” Trump said. “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, so it is very hard to sell in India,” he added.
High tariffs and strategic shifts underline Trump’s position
Trump’s comments come at a pivotal moment for Apple, which has been strategically shifting its manufacturing footprint away from China in response to trade tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities. India has emerged as a key alternative hub, but Trump’s rhetoric suggests a renewed push for American-based production, consistent with his administration’s economic nationalism.
According to the president, New Delhi has also offered a tariff-free trade deal to Washington — a claim not officially confirmed by Indian authorities. “They (India) offered us a deal where basically they have agreed to charge us literally no tariffs. I said, Tim, we are treating you really good, we put up with all the plants you built in China for years. We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves,” Trump stated.
Apple’s growing investment in India
Apple currently operates three major manufacturing facilities in India — two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka. These plants are managed by Foxconn and Tata Group, two of Apple’s key manufacturing partners. The company also has two additional facilities in development as part of its ongoing expansion in the country.
In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India, marking a significant 60% increase over the previous year. The rapid growth underscores Apple’s commitment to diversifying its production base amid evolving global trade dynamics.
Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook signaled the growing importance of India in the company’s supply chain, telling AFP, “A majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin.”
Domestic production still a priority for Apple
Despite Apple’s push into India, Trump’s administration has been urging the tech sector to strengthen domestic operations. The President noted that Apple is planning a major expansion of its U.S.-based production capacity — a move likely aligned with Trump’s broader “America First” manufacturing agenda.
Trump’s message to Apple — and, by extension, to other American multinationals — is clear: expanding overseas, particularly in markets with protectionist trade barriers, may no longer align with Washington’s economic vision.
The impact of this directive on Apple’s global supply chain strategy and U.S.-India trade relations remains to be seen, but it adds a new layer of complexity to the already tense interplay between geopolitics and global technology manufacturing.
