Trump asks Apple CEO not to manufacture in India, says 'they can take care of themselves'

US President Donald Trump has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand the company’s manufacturing operations in India, citing high tariffs and trade difficulties. Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump said, “India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world, so it is very hard to sell in India.” He emphasized that Apple should prioritize production in the United States instead. Trump added, “We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves.”

Trump also claimed that India had offered the United States a deal to remove tariffs on American goods. He said, “They (India) have offered us a deal where basically they have agreed to charge us literally no tariffs,” but no official confirmation has been made by Indian authorities regarding this offer.

Apple currently operates three manufacturing plants in India, located in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The plants are operated by contract manufacturers including Foxconn and the Tata Group. The company has plans to open two additional plants in India. In the last fiscal year ending March, Apple assembled iPhones worth $22 billion in India, marking a 60 percent increase in production compared to the previous year.

The US and India are engaged in ongoing trade talks following increased tariffs imposed by the US on Indian steel and aluminum exports. India responded with threats of retaliatory tariffs. Despite these tensions, trade negotiations continue, with India’s trade minister scheduled to visit the US between May 17 and 20 to further discussions.

Apple’s move to increase manufacturing in India has been part of a broader strategy to diversify production away from China. Trump’s request for Apple to expand production in the US comes amid these shifts and ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.