Doha: U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently touring West Asian nations, has raised objections to Apple’s ongoing manufacturing expansion in India. Speaking at a meeting in Doha, Qatar, Trump revealed that he had conveyed his disapproval directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook, stating that he was unhappy with the company’s decision to establish more production facilities in India. He added that India should focus on meeting its own domestic needs.
Trump has repeatedly advocated for American companies to bring their manufacturing operations back to the United States. He has previously stated that Apple should centre its production within the U.S. to support local industry and employment.
Despite India’s production costs being 5 to 10 percent higher than China’s, Apple has been diversifying its supply chain due to U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. A recent Reuters report indicated that Apple plans to produce the majority of its devices in India by the end of 2026.
Currently, Apple sells approximately 60 million iPhones annually in the U.S., with nearly 80 percent of them manufactured in China. Trump has now called for shifting that production base to the United States.
In March 2025, Apple reportedly exported 600 tonnes of iPhones worth Rs 17,000 crore from India. Manufacturing in the country is handled by partners such as Foxconn and Tata. In 2024, Apple produced 18 to 20 percent of its global iPhone supply—around 40 to 45 million units—in India.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently informed investors that the company is increasingly sourcing products including iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, and iPads from India and Vietnam due to ongoing tariff concerns. However, Apple products sold outside the U.S. continue to be shipped predominantly from China.