Trump Asks Apple CEO Tim Cook to Stop Building iPhone Plants in India

US President Donald Trump said he has asked Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook to stop building plants in India, criticising the iPhone maker’s plans to manufacture all its iPhones for the US market in the country. Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March, increasing production by nearly 60% from the previous year.

“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump told Bloomberg, referring to his conversation with the Apple chief executive in Qatar, where he is on a state visit. Trump added that Apple would be “upping their production in the United States”.

Trump’s remarks come as reports suggest Apple is working to shift the bulk of its iPhone production for the American market to India by the end of 2026. The company, which still depends heavily on China for manufacturing, is trying to diversify its supply chain amid rising geopolitical tensions and past disruptions like China’s strict Covid lockdowns.

The trade conflict and tariffs introduced by Trump, earlier this year, have also accelerated Apple’s efforts to reduce its reliance on China.

In India, most iPhones are assembled at a Foxconn plant in the south of the country. Tata Electronics, which acquired Wistron’s local operations and oversees Pegatron’s India facilities, is another major supplier. Both Tata and Foxconn are building new plants and expanding capacity, according to reports.

Apple’s long-term goal is to manufacture most of the iPhones sold in the US in India. With Washington considering new tariffs on Chinese goods, Apple is reportedly accelerating this transition, according to Reuters.

Apple sells over 60 million iPhones in the US annually, with around 80% currently made in China. Manufacturing in India is more expensive—roughly 5–8% higher than in China, with some models costing up to 10% more, Reuters noted.

In anticipation of increased tariffs, Apple has already ramped up shipments from India. In March alone, it reportedly exported iPhones worth $2 billion to the US—about 600 tonnes of devices. This set a record for Apple’s Indian suppliers, with Foxconn alone accounting for $1.3 billion.

In April, the Trump administration imposed 26% duties on imports from India—much lower than the more than 100% China faced at the time. Washington has since paused most of these duties for three months, except for China, which continues to face tariffs of around 30% while trade talks continue.

India has some of the highest tariff barriers in the world, making it difficult to sell American products there, Trump told Bloomberg. However, he said India has offered to eliminate all tariffs on US goods as part of ongoing negotiations on import duties.