Apple must cease producing iPhones in India, according to Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is still of the opinion that Apple ought to cease producing iPhones abroad. During his presidential visit to Qatar, the US president claimed to have told Tim Cook that Apple should no longer assemble its most important products in India.
"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. He makes everything in India. I don't want you making everything in India!" Trump declared in his usual snarky tone. But he didn't stop there, confirming that Apple is committed to "accelerating production" in the United States.
Naturally, Donald Trump's comments should be taken with caution. Since the Republican began his second term, protectionism has become his most important trade policy. This is a very complex scenario for Apple and other technology companies that rely heavily on production lines installed in China and other Asian countries. The White House insists that Californians should—and can—make iPhones in the United States.
It's no coincidence that Trump is targeting Apple for its iPhone production in India. When the tariff war between the United States and China erupted, Apple's manufacturing capacity in India became a lifeline. Tim Cook and his company decided to double their mobile phone production in the country to meet demand in the US market.
According to Bloomberg, Apple produces about 40 million iPhones annually in India. This represents 20% of the total number of mobile phones manufactured. Annual demand in the United States is about 60 million units, so the company's plan was to double its manufacturing in India by the end of 2026 to meet this demand. But pressure from Trump could complicate this strategy.