U.S.–India iPhone Row: Trump Warns Apple of Tariffs if Manufacturing Shifts to India
New York: U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his demand that Apple Inc. manufacture its iPhones in the United States, warning that the tech giant could face significant tariffs if it continues to produce its devices overseas, particularly in India.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday while signing a series of executive orders aimed at boosting the U.S. nuclear energy sector, Mr Trump said that he had conveyed his expectations directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“Tim said he’s going to India to build plants. I said, ‘That’s okay to go to India, but you’re not going to sell into here without tariffs,’” Mr. Trump stated, adding that he wants iPhones sold in the U.S. to be built domestically.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Trump had posted on social media asserting that he expects Apple to relocate its iPhone production to the United States and warned of a 25 per cent tariff if the company does not comply.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America to 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 U.S.,” Mr. Trump wrote.
The remarks come amid growing speculation around Apple’s manufacturing shift to India. During a visit to the Middle East earlier this month, Mr. Trump had stated in Doha that he had urged the Apple CEO to prioritise production in the United States over India.
“You can build in India if you want to take care of India… But I don’t want you building in India if you are selling here,” Mr. Trump said at a meeting with corporate executives. He also criticised India for high tariff barriers, while noting that the country had offered the U.S. a deal involving tariff reductions.
India’s Role in Apple’s Supply Chain
Apple has significantly expanded its manufacturing operations in India in recent years. In the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, Mr. Cook noted that the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. in the June quarter would originate from India, while products like iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods would mostly be sourced from Vietnam.
“The existing tariffs that apply to Apple today are based on the product’s country of origin,” Mr. Cook stated.
Analysts React
Analysts believe Mr. Trump’s comments are aimed at pushing Apple to further localise its manufacturing in the U.S., although such a shift would face practical and economic challenges.
“This is a familiar Trump tactic. Making in the U.S. will be significantly more expensive than assembling iPhones in India,” said Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research.
Neil Shah, Vice President at the same firm, highlighted the substantial progress Apple has made in India.
“India has enough capacity to potentially meet all U.S. iPhone demand in the future, although the ecosystem will need to be expanded. We expect made-in-India iPhones to account for 25% to 30% of global iPhone shipments in 2025, up from 18% in 2024,” Mr. Shah said.
As Apple continues to diversify its global supply chain, the political and economic implications of its manufacturing strategy remain a focal point in U.S.–India trade dynamics.
