'We’re not interested in you building in India...' US President Trump to Apple CEO Tim Cook
PTC Web Desk: US President Donald Trump has stated that he urged Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand manufacturing operations in India, suggesting that Apple should focus more on increasing production within the United States.
According to a Bloomberg report, Trump made these comments during a business event in Doha, where he said, “We’re not interested in you building in India. They can take care of themselves, they are doing very well.”
Trump claimed that following this conversation, Apple committed to ramping up its US production, although he did not provide specific details or timelines regarding changes to Apple’s India plans.
The statement comes at a delicate time in India-US trade relations. Just days before, India had threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on American products after the US raised import duties on Indian steel and aluminum exports.
Despite tensions, Bloomberg reports that trade negotiations between the two nations are ongoing. Talks began earlier this year following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House, where both countries agreed to finalize the first phase of a trade deal by autumn.
Trump: India offered zero tariffs on US products
In the same Doha speech, Donald Trump added that India had offered to remove all tariffs on American goods. “They are willing to literally charge us no tariff,” he said, although he did not provide any evidence or documentation to support this claim.
Indian officials have not confirmed the tariff waiver offer, and no joint statement has been released clarifying whether such a proposal was officially made.
Trump’s remarks have added a layer of complexity to the already sensitive trade discussions. Indian officials have reportedly expressed frustration over some of Trump’s recent public statements, including his controversial comment about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and suggesting that trade negotiations were used as leverage in military matters—an assertion that Indian authorities have denied.
Meanwhile, Apple has been gradually expanding its manufacturing base in India through partners like Foxconn and Wistron. These initiatives support India’s push to attract foreign investment in electronics and reduce import dependence.
Despite Trump’s remarks, Apple has not publicly indicated any plans to reduce or halt its operations in India, which remains a key market for the company’s global supply chain strategy.
- With inputs from agencies
