U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to tech giant Apple. He said that if Apple makes iPhones in India and sells them in the United States, the company will face high taxes.
Trump made this statement on Friday, May 23, through a post on social media. In his message, he said, “If an iPhone is made to sell in the U.S., then it must be made in the U.S. Products made in other countries, especially in India, will face tariffs.”
He added that if Apple makes iPhones in India and ships them to the U.S., the company will have to pay a 25% tariff. Trump also said he had already warned Apple CEO Tim Cook about this issue. “I heard that you are making products in India. I do not want Apple to make goods in India,” he wrote.
This warning comes at a time when Apple is shifting some of its production to India. The company is trying to lower production costs and reduce its dependence on China. Right now, a big part of Apple’s products is still made in China. But in recent years, the company has started to grow its business in India.
At present, three major companies—Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron—make iPhones in India. These companies work with Apple to assemble and ship the devices.
According to CNBC, about 20% of Apple’s iPhones are now made in India. A good number of those phones are sent to the United States for sale.
Trump’s statement matches his long-time policy of promoting goods that are “Made in USA.” Since becoming president in 2017, he has pushed hard to bring back American manufacturing. His goal was to reduce U.S. reliance on countries like China and India for making goods.
During his time in office, Trump raised tariffs on many items from China. Now, with this new statement, it looks like he wants to apply similar pressure on products made in India.
Apple’s move to India is not new. The company started testing iPhone assembly in India years ago. Since then, production has grown. India has become a key market for Apple, both for selling and making iPhones. The Indian government has also given support to global tech companies to set up factories there.
The recent push to increase production in India came after problems in China. COVID-19 lockdowns and rising labor costs made it harder for Apple to depend only on China. India offered a cheaper and more stable option.
But Trump’s warning could create problems for Apple’s global strategy. If a 25% tariff is added to Indian-made iPhones, it would hurt profits. Apple may also have to raise prices in the U.S., which could make buyers unhappy.
So far, Apple has not replied to Trump’s post. The company often avoids political fights. But this warning from Trump may force Apple to rethink its future plans.
Experts say that if Trump returns to power, he may once again push for strict trade rules. This could affect not just Apple but many other tech companies that build products outside the U.S.
For now, Apple continues to grow its base in India. It is unclear how much Trump’s message will change the company’s path. But one thing is clear—Apple may soon have to choose between saving money and avoiding new tariffs.
