Trump Advises Apple Against India Manufacturing Expansion, Citing High Tariffs

Trump Advises Apple Against India Manufacturing Expansion, Citing High Tariffs

RMN News Story Highlights

• US President Donald Trump advised Apple CEO Tim Cook against broadly expanding manufacturing in India.

• Trump cited India’s high tariffs as the reason, saying it makes selling there “very hard”.

• Despite Trump’s advice, Apple is increasing iPhone assembly in India with partners like Foxconn and Pegatron, shifting away from China.

• Trump mentioned that India has proposed a trade deal to eliminate tariffs on US goods.

RMN News Business Desk
May 15, 2025

US President Donald Trump has publicly disclosed that he advised Apple CEO Tim Cook not to significantly expand the company’s manufacturing operations in India. Speaking at a business event in Doha on May 15, 2025, Trump stated that he told Cook that expansion in India should only occur if it is specifically intended to serve Indian consumers.

The primary reason cited for this advice was India’s status as “one of the highest tariff nations in the world,” which Trump believes makes it “very hard to sell in India”. Trump’s comments underscore his consistent policy focus on encouraging American businesses to bring investments back to the United States.

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This advice comes as Apple has been actively increasing its iPhone assembly operations in India. The tech giant is reportedly reducing its reliance on Chinese production and partnering with suppliers such as Foxconn and Pegatron for manufacturing in India. This strategy aligns with the Indian government’s efforts to boost domestic manufacturing through initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

During the same event, Trump mentioned that India had proposed a trade arrangement aimed at eliminating tariffs on US goods. However, details on this potential agreement were not provided, and the Indian government has not yet commented on the claim.

The reports indicate that India was among the earliest nations to begin trade discussions with the U.S. following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House in February. Both countries are reportedly working towards concluding the initial phase of a bilateral trade agreement by autumn. India’s commerce minister is scheduled to travel to the U.S. between May 17 and 20 to continue negotiations with the Trump administration.