In a daring assertion throughout a enterprise occasion in Doha, US President Donald Trump urged Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner to halt the corporate’s ongoing enlargement in India. Trump’s feedback come as Apple more and more shifts its manufacturing operations from China to India, with plans to make India a significant world manufacturing hub for iPhones.

President Trump, recognized for his vocal stance on home job creation and commerce protectionism, expressed his dissatisfaction on to Prepare dinner. “I mentioned to him, my good friend, I’m treating you excellent. You might be arising with $500 billion, however now I hear you’re constructing throughout India. I don’t need you constructing in India,” Trump said on the discussion board.

The previous president emphasised that India imposes among the highest tariffs on the earth, making it troublesome for American firms to promote merchandise there. “You’ll be able to construct in India if you wish to deal with India as a result of India is likely one of the highest tariff nations on the earth,” he added, implying that Apple ought to concentrate on American enlargement and financial pursuits slightly than boosting manufacturing abroad.

Trump additional claimed that India has provided a zero-tariff deal to the US. Nevertheless, no official affirmation or announcement has been made by New Delhi concerning such an settlement. “They provided us a deal the place principally they’ve agreed to cost us actually no tariffs,” Trump mentioned. “I mentioned Tim, we’re treating you actually good. We put up with all of the vegetation you inbuilt China for years. We aren’t curious about you constructing in India. India can deal with themselves.”

This assertion arrives at a pivotal second for Apple, because it strengthens its presence in India to diversify away from China. Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner had mentioned he anticipated a majority of iPhones offered within the US would quickly originate from India. The tech large at present operates three manufacturing vegetation in India—two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka—via companions like Foxconn and the Tata Group. Two extra services are reportedly in improvement.

Apple’s manufacturing push in India has already seen important outcomes. Within the final fiscal yr ending March 2025, Apple assembled iPhones price $22 billion in India—a 60% improve over the earlier monetary yr. The corporate’s aggressive India enlargement is seen as a strategic transfer to mitigate dangers from US-China commerce tensions and to learn from India’s rising tech manufacturing ecosystem.

Whereas Trump’s remarks might mirror broader issues over outsourcing and commerce imbalances, business analysts word that Apple’s India focus is unlikely to waver given its long-term strategic targets.

As geopolitical pressures mount and the worldwide provide chain continues to evolve, Apple might discover itself navigating not solely market calls for but additionally political expectations—on each side of the globe.