Donald Trump’s fresh blow for Apple’s ‘Make in India’ plans; announces 25% tariff on iPhones made outside US

US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Apple on Friday, saying the corporate ought to face a 25% tariff if it manufactures iPhones in “India or anyplace else.” Trump asserted that he had already knowledgeable Apple CEO Tim Cook that he expects iPhones offered in the US to be made in America.Trump took to his Truth Social platform, straight addressing the Apple CEO claiming that, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.”“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US Thank your for your attention to this matter!” he added.

The remarks come at a time when Apple is aggressively increasing its manufacturing footprint in India. The firm, together with its key suppliers, has been shifting manufacturing out of China, a transfer accelerated by pandemic-related disruptions and ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.During a earlier state go to to Qatar, Trump recounted a dialog with Cook in which he criticised Apple’s growing funding in India.

Trump stated, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India.”“I don’t want you building in India. India can take care of themselves,” Trump reportedly informed Cook on May 15.Trump was referring to Apple’s earlier pledge to speculate $500 billion in the United States, introduced in February.During the know-how agency’s first-quarter earnings announcement in early May, Cook said that “a majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin”.Apple has elevated its manufacturing in India, aiming to fabricate roughly 25% of worldwide iPhones in the nation throughout the subsequent few years, while decreasing its dependence on China, the place about 90% of its flagship smartphones are at present assembled.The firm produced roughly $22 billion value of iPhones in India in the 12 months ending March 2025, exhibiting a 60% rise from the earlier 12 months.At current, India manufactures one in 5 iPhones globally, demonstrating the corporate’s efforts to distribute manufacturing past China amidst ongoing commerce disputes.