Trump to Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘Don’t Build in India’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand iPhone production in India, instead calling on the tech giant to focus on ramping up manufacturing within the United States. Speaking at a business event in Qatar on Thursday, Trump said he had recently raised concerns with Cook about Apple’s growing footprint in India.
“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said. “He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” he added, suggesting that Apple will increase production at home instead.
India has become a major manufacturing hub for Apple in recent years. In the last financial year alone, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India—an impressive 60% jump from the previous year. Much of this production is handled by Foxconn and Tata Group facilities.
Trump’s remarks come amid his long-standing push to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. He has repeatedly criticized American companies for outsourcing production, and on Thursday, he doubled down—accusing India of having “one of the highest tariff barriers in the world.” According to Trump, it remains extremely difficult to sell U.S. products in India, despite the growing economic ties between the two countries.
However, in a twist, Trump also claimed that India had offered a zero-tariff deal to the U.S. on American goods. “They are willing to charge us no tariff,” he told business leaders, without offering further details.
His latest comments also follow his earlier claim that he used trade negotiations to broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. However, Indian government sources have denied that any such discussions on trade or U.S. mediation took place during recent diplomatic talks. Officials in New Delhi also rejected Trump’s assertion that the U.S. helped facilitate the ceasefire, insisting the decision was independently reached.
Tensions regarding trabetween the U.S. and India have been building for a while, with recent developments adding to the strain. India has threatened to hit back with retaliatory tariffs after the U.S. raised import duties on steel and aluminum—an action that has only deepened the rift in their economic relationship.
