At a recent event in Qatar, U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed that he had advised Apple CEO Tim Cook to halt the expansion of manufacturing activities in India, urging the company to focus more on increasing production within the United States.
Trump voiced concerns about India’s high tariff rates, remarking, “India can take care of themselves, they are doing very well.”
Read more: Apple Faces $900 Million Hit Amid Ongoing Tariff Pressures
Regarding ongoing trade talks, Trump stated that India has offered a trade deal featuring “literally no tariffs” on American products. This proposal comes amid a 90-day pause on U.S. tariff hikes announced on April 9 and includes plans to reduce the tariff difference between the two countries from 13% to below 4%.
Apple has been gradually relocating a large portion of its iPhone production to India and aims to source most of its U.S. iPhones from India by the end of the following year. This shift is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify manufacturing beyond China due to geopolitical tensions and tariff issues.
India’s suggested elimination of tariffs on U.S. goods signals its willingness to improve trade relations and expedite a trade agreement with the U.S. However, Indian officials have not publicly confirmed this offer, emphasizing their focus on maintaining strategic independence and resolving matters bilaterally.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is set to visit Washington from May 17 to 20 to continue trade discussions, highlighting both countries’ commitment to achieving a timely and mutually beneficial deal.
