New Delhi : Former US President Donald Trump has renewed pressure on Apple over its decision to expand iPhone production in India, warning of a potential 25% import tariff on devices sold in the US if they are not manufactured domestically.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones, which will be sold in the United States of America, to be manufactured and built in the United States—not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump had previously raised similar concerns during a public address in Doha on May 15, claiming he had spoken to Apple CEO Tim Cook and urged him to limit the company’s expansion plans in India.
Apple has significantly increased its manufacturing presence in India in recent years, partnering with companies such as Foxconn and Tata Group to establish iPhone assembly plants in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Apple produced $22 billion worth of iPhones in India—a 60% increase over the previous year.
In 2024, the company manufactured around 40–45 million iPhones in India, representing 18–20% of its global output. Of these, approximately 15 million were exported to the US, 13 million to other international markets, and around 12 million were sold within India.
Apple’s growing footprint in India comes amid heightened US-China trade tensions and rising reciprocal tariffs. In response, Apple has strategically moved to shift the production of iPhones destined for the US market from China to India.
India is now Apple’s fourth-largest market globally, following the US, China, and Japan. The company recorded an 11th consecutive quarter of revenue growth in India in January 2025, with annual iPhone sales reaching an estimated $10 billion in 2024.
The former president’s latest comments reflect the intensifying debate over domestic manufacturing and economic nationalism ahead of the upcoming US elections. Apple has not yet responded publicly to Trump’s statement.
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