Donald Trump's fresh blow for Apple’s ‘Make in India’ plans; announces 25% tariff on iPhones made outside US

US President Donald Trump issued a caller informing to Apple connected Friday, saying the institution should look a 25% tariff if it manufactures iPhones successful "India oregon anyplace else." Trump asserted that helium had already informed Apple CEO Tim Cook that helium expects iPhones sold successful the US to beryllium made successful America.Trump took to his Truth Social platform, straight addressing the Apple CEO claiming that, "I person agelong agone informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that volition beryllium sold successful the United States of America volition beryllium manufactured and built successful the United States, not India, oregon anyplace else.""If that is not the case, a Tariff of astatine slightest 25% indispensable beryllium paid by Apple to the US Thank your for your attraction to this matter!" helium added.

The remarks travel astatine a clip erstwhile Apple is aggressively expanding its manufacturing footprint successful India. The company, on with its cardinal suppliers, has been shifting accumulation retired of China, a determination accelerated by pandemic-related disruptions and ongoing geopolitical tensions betwixt Washington and Beijing.During a erstwhile authorities sojourn to Qatar, Trump recounted a speech with Cook successful which helium criticised Apple's expanding concern successful India.

Trump said, "I had a small occupation with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, 'my friend, I treated you precise good. You're coming present with $500 billion, but present I perceive you're gathering each implicit India.""I don't privation you gathering successful India. India tin instrumentality attraction of themselves," Trump reportedly told Cook connected May 15.

Trump was referring to Apple’s earlier pledge to put $500 cardinal successful the United States, announced successful February.During the exertion firm's first-quarter net announcement successful aboriginal May, Cook stated that "a bulk of iPhones sold successful the US volition person India arsenic their state of origin".Apple has accrued its accumulation successful India, aiming to manufacture astir 25% of planetary iPhones successful the state wrong the adjacent fewer years, whilst reducing its dependence connected China, wherever astir 90% of its flagship smartphones are presently assembled.The institution produced astir $22 cardinal worthy of iPhones successful India successful the twelvemonth ending March 2025, showing a 60% emergence from the erstwhile year.At present, India manufactures 1 successful 5 iPhones globally, demonstrating the company's efforts to administer accumulation beyond China amidst ongoing commercialized disputes.