Trump Urges Apple to Halt Manufacturing Expansion in India

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to limit or stop the company's manufacturing expansion in India, emphasizing that Apple should focus on building products in the United States rather than abroad. Trump expressed frustration over Apple's plans to invest an estimated $500 billion in India, arguing that such moves undermine American manufacturing goals and that India can manage its own industrial growth. He highlighted that India has historically imposed high tariffs on American products but recently offered to eliminate these tariffs as part of trade negotiations, a shift Trump attributes to his administration's pressure on New Delhi. Despite this, Trump stressed that Apple’s manufacturing in India is unwelcome unless it serves the local Indian market. Apple has significantly increased iPhone production in India, with plants in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, producing around 40-45 million iPhones in 2024 and exporting a large portion to the U.S. and other markets. Trump also referenced prior tolerance of Apple's expansions in China but stated that this leniency does not extend to India, reinforcing his call for American manufacturing prioritization.