Trump's big blow to Apple: Ban on manufacturing plant in India, said- "India can take care of itself"

Doha: US President Donald Trump has refused Apple CEO Tim Cook to expand manufacturing plants in India. During a business event in Doha, Trump said, "I told Tim Cook, I don't want you to set up a plant in India. India can take care of itself." This statement has come at a time when Apple is working on a plan to make India a major hub of its global iPhone production. Trump's remarks have raised questions about India-US trade relations and Apple's strategy. Let's look at the facts and implications of this development.

Trump's conversation with Tim Cook

On May 14, 2025, during a business event in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Trump revealed that he had recently discussed with Apple CEO Tim Cook. Trump said, "I told Tim, we treated you very well. We tolerated your plants in China for years. Now we don't want you to increase production in India. India can take care of itself." Trump claimed that after this conversation, Apple has promised to increase its manufacturing in the US.

Trump described India as "one of the countries with the highest tariffs in the world" and said that it is difficult to sell American products in India. However, he also mentioned that India has proposed to remove tariffs on American goods, about which the Indian government has not yet made any official statement.

Apple's current situation in India

Apple has rapidly increased its manufacturing capacity in India in recent years. As of March 2025, Apple produced iPhones worth $22 billion in India, representing a 60% increase over the previous year. The company aims to assemble most of the iPhones sold in the US in India by 2026, to avoid US-China trade tensions and tariffs.

Apple's major partners in India, such as Foxconn and Tata Group, are running iPhone assembly plants in Tamil Nadu and other southern states. Foxconn recently received approval from the Indian government for a semiconductor plant. Tata Group's new plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, is expected to create 50,000 jobs with 20 assembly lines.

Trump's "Make in America" ​​push

Trump's remarks are part of his "Make in America" ​​policy, which aims to encourage US companies to increase manufacturing in the country. Trump said Apple has committed to invest $500 billion in the US, including a new server manufacturing plant in Texas and an investment in TSMC's Arizona chip factory. However, experts believe that producing iPhones in the US could increase the cost by $1,500 to $3,500, which would prove costly for consumers.

Impact for India

Trump's statement could deal a blow to India's ambitious plan to become a global tech manufacturing hub. Apple contributes 15% of global iPhone production in India, and the company recently assured Indian officials that there will be no change in their investment plans in India. Indian officials have expressed disappointment over Trump's statement, especially after India proposed to reduce tariffs on US goods.

Global trade and tariff game

Trump's move is being considered a part of the US-China trade war. Recently, the US and China announced a tariff reduction for 90 days, with iPhones exempted from tariffs. Apple took advantage of this opportunity and adopted a strategy to increase production in India and Vietnam. Trump's comments could be a warning to India, as he is pressuring India to reduce tariffs.

Conclusion

Trump's directive to Apple to stop manufacturing in India could bring new complications in India-US trade relations. However, Apple has indicated to continue with its plans in India, making it clear that the company considers India important in its global supply chain. How much this policy of Trump will affect India's manufacturing ambitions will be known in the future.