Stop Building iPhone Plants In India, Donald Trump To Apple CEO (image: Britannica)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop building plants in India, instead increase its manufacturing in America. Trump made the remark, citing his conversation with the Apple Chief Executive, while on a state visit in Qatar.
The US President’s comment came as reports suggest the tech giant is working to transfer the bulk of its iPhone production for the American market to India by the end of 2026.
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While addressing a press conference 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. 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.”
At present, manufacturing of Apple’s iPhone is concentrated in China, with no production facilities in US. The company is attempting to diversify its supply chain due to rising geopolitical tensions and past disruptions like China’s Covid lockdowns. Apart from this, the trade issues and tariffs introduced by Trump, have also pushed Apple’s efforts to reduce its reliance on China.
BIGGEST BREAKING 🚨
Modi’s friend Donald Trump said he told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to build in India
“I have told Cook that i have problems with you if you manufacture in India”
Will Narendra Modi dare call it out to take a stand for India??
Don’t forget that Mukesh Ambani… pic.twitter.com/TT9tiHRWBz
— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) May 15, 2025
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In India, most of the iPhones are assembled at a Foxconn plant in south India. Another significant supplier is Tata Group’s electronics division, which bought Wistron Corp.’s local business and runs Pegatron Corp.’s operations in India. According to reports, both Tata and Foxconn are expanding the number of plants to advance production capacity.
In the last fiscal year ending on this March, Apple produced USD 22 billion worth of iPhones in India, which is a huge 60 per cent jump from the prior year.
