U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed displeasure with Apple CEO Tim Cook over the company’s plans to expand manufacturing operations in India.
Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump said he had a "little problem" with Cook regarding Apple’s investment plans in the country.
"I told him, ‘My friend, I’m treating you very well. You’re bringing in $500 billion. But now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,’" Trump said. "India can take care of themselves. If you want to take care of India, go ahead — but remember, India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world. It’s very hard to sell there."
Trump further claimed that India had offered Washington a deal to remove tariffs on U.S. goods — although no such formal agreement has been confirmed by New Delhi.
"They offered us a deal where they’d charge us virtually no tariffs. I told Tim, we’ve tolerated all your China plants for years, and we’re treating you well. But we don’t want Apple building in India," the President reiterated.
The remarks come at a pivotal moment for Apple, which is actively seeking to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and tariff pressures.
The company has been increasingly shifting production to India, which is now considered a key hub in Apple’s global supply chain.
Just weeks ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook had indicated that the company expects the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. to be made in India in the near future.
Apple currently operates three manufacturing facilities in India — two in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka. These are run by Foxconn and Tata Group, with two additional plants reportedly in development.
Trump’s public comments underscore the growing friction between protectionist U.S. policies and American corporations seeking to diversify their manufacturing bases globally.
