Trump Sends Tim Cook a Clear Warning as Apple’s India Strategy Gains Momentum

Apple continues to reduce its reliance on China. In a recent call with investors, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that India will soon manufacture most of the iPhones sold in the U.S. The move marks a key milestone in Apple’s quiet effort to diversify its supply chain. So far, it’s paying off: Half of all iPhones sold in the U.S. already come from Indian factories.

But not everyone supports the shift. During a public speech in Qatar on his Middle East tour, President Donald Trump took direct aim at Apple’s strategy. “I had a little problem with Tim Cook,” Trump said in a video posted to YouTube. According to him, Cook promised a $500 billion investment, but now appears focused on building “all over India.” Trump’s response: “I don’t want you building in India.”

The president didn’t stop there. After years of accepting Apple’s dependence on Chinese factories, he now expects production to move closer to home. “We want you to build here,” he said.

This tone may signal a new chapter in Apple’s relationship with the White House. The tech giant, which still manufactures most of its iPhones in China, has yet to open smartphone production facilities in the U.S.

Analysts say it’s unlikely. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities argues that moving iPhone production to the U.S. would be prohibitively expensive for Apple and its customers. Experts at Evercore added that the U.S. economy simply isn’t ready to build a smartphone supply chain, citing a lack of infrastructure and skilled labor.

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The Trade Chessboard Shifts Again

Tensions between Apple and Trump come at a time of renewed uncertainty in global trade. On April 2, the administration introduced a new tariff regime that hit Chinese imports with rates up to 145%. The policy is currently on pause.

After progress in talks between Washington and Beijing, both governments agreed to a 90-day freeze on additional tariffs. For now, Chinese goods face a base import tax of 30%—still higher than the 10% rate applied to countries like India and Vietnam.

The thaw may reduce the pressure on companies to exit China, but it also introduces new uncertainty. Will tech firms continue to diversify production, or wait to see how the situation evolves?

For Apple, the choice is increasingly complicated. Cook’s India bet is real—and growing. But the political cost may soon rival the financial one.

Image | Trump White House Archived

Related | Apple Expects the Tariffs’ Impact to Be $900 Million. That’s the Cost of Producing Nearly 2 Million iPhones