Trump Warns Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'I Don’t Want You Building in India' – Key Details
US President Donald Trump has reportedly advised Apple CEO Tim Cook against expanding manufacturing operations in India, stating, "I don't want you building in India. India can take care of themselves."
Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump revealed he had a "little problem" with Cook over Apple’s plans in India. "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," Trump said.
The US President also claimed that India had proposed a tariff-free deal for US goods—though no such official announcement has been made by New Delhi. "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 added.
He further emphasized that Apple—whose iPhones and MacBooks are in high demand globally—should focus on expanding production in the US instead.
Apple’s India Expansion Plans Amid Trump’s Opposition
Trump’s remarks come at a crucial time as Apple looks to diversify its supply chain away from China and ramp up production in India. Earlier this month, AFP reported that Cook anticipated "a majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin."
Currently, Apple operates three manufacturing plants in India—two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka—run by Foxconn and Tata Group, respectively. Two additional facilities are reportedly in the works.
In the fiscal year ending March, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India, marking a 60% surge in production compared to the previous year.
Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump revealed he had a "little problem" with Cook over Apple’s plans in India. "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," Trump said.
The US President also claimed that India had proposed a tariff-free deal for US goods—though no such official announcement has been made by New Delhi. "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 added.
He further emphasized that Apple—whose iPhones and MacBooks are in high demand globally—should focus on expanding production in the US instead.
Apple’s India Expansion Plans Amid Trump’s Opposition
Trump’s remarks come at a crucial time as Apple looks to diversify its supply chain away from China and ramp up production in India. Earlier this month, AFP reported that Cook anticipated "a majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin."
Currently, Apple operates three manufacturing plants in India—two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka—run by Foxconn and Tata Group, respectively. Two additional facilities are reportedly in the works.
In the fiscal year ending March, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India, marking a 60% surge in production compared to the previous year.
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