Thu May 15 08:35:11 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Trump Urges Apple to Halt Expansion in India, Cites Trade Concerns**

DOHA – In a surprising statement, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly discouraged Apple CEO Tim Cook from expanding manufacturing operations in India, citing trade imbalances and high tariffs. Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump revealed he told Cook directly, “I don’t want you building in India,” adding, “India can take care of themselves.”

Trump emphasized his administration’s favorable treatment of Apple, referencing the company’s planned $500 billion investment in the U.S. However, he voiced concerns about Apple shifting production to India, a nation he described as having “one of the highest tariff nations in the world,” making it difficult to sell American goods there.

The President further claimed that India had offered the U.S. a deal with “literally no tariffs” on American goods, although no official announcement of such a deal has been made by the Indian government. Trump stated he told Cook, “We are not interested in you building in India.”

This pronouncement comes at a pivotal moment for Apple, which is actively seeking to diversify its manufacturing base away from China amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S. Reports earlier this month indicated that Cook anticipates a majority of iPhones sold in the US will soon be manufactured in India.

Apple currently operates three manufacturing plants in India, located in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with two more in the planning stages. The company has significantly ramped up its production in India, assembling iPhones worth $22 billion in the last fiscal year, a 60% increase compared to the previous year.

Trump’s intervention could significantly impact Apple’s strategic plans to expand its presence in the rapidly growing Indian market and further diversify its global supply chain. The company has yet to release a statement.

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