Trump opposes iPhone assembly in India for US market

Trump claimed that following their discussion, Apple would be “upping their production in the United States,” though he provided no specific details. This stance aligns with his broader push for domestic manufacturing and his trade policies, including reciprocal tariffs that could impact India-made iPhones. However, Apple has reaffirmed its commitment to India as a key manufacturing hub, with executives stating to Indian officials that their investment plans remain unchanged.

Broad trade policies and geopolitical strategies during Trump’s tenure (2017–2021) influenced Apple’s decision to expand manufacturing in India. Key factors included the US-China tariff war , which now has fallen flat after both countries after talks in Switzerland decided to cut tariffs recently.

The US imposed tariffs on Chinese imports to pressure American companies to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing. This raised costs for Apple, which historically manufactured most iPhones in China, prompting diversification of supply chains to countries including India.

Meanwhile, Trump also sought to address trade imbalances with India, criticizing its tariffs on U.S. goods. Negotiations for a limited trade deal (2019–2020) aimed at mutual market access, potentially creating a friendlier environment for U.S. companies operating in India. However, no direct iPhone-specific provisions were enacted. But talks for a US-India trade deal are still on.

Trump’s policies did not explicitly target iPhone production in India but created conditions (via tariffs on China and geopolitical shifts) that incentivized companies like Apple to explore alternative manufacturing hubs. India’s own economic policies and market potential further facilitated this shift. The move reflected a broader corporate strategy to mitigate trade risks and capitalize on emerging markets, rather than a direct outcome of U.S. policy.

Most iPhones made in India are assembled at Foxconn Technology Group’s plant in the south of the country. Tata Group, which acquired Wistron Corp’s local business and oversees Pegatron Corp.’s local facilities, is another major supplier.

Apple began the assembly of iPhones in India in 2017. There are currently three iPhone assembly plants in India – two in Tamil Nadu, and one in Karnataka. Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu is the biggest, with two large Foxconn plants.

The Apple iphone has around a thousand components and ninety percent of them are assembled in China. President Trump opposing assembly in India came during his Qatar visit, after Apple promised to invest $ 500 billion in the United States and assemble more iphones in India.

“The tech giant sells more than 220 million iPhones a year worldwide, according to the global technological research and consulting firm Counterpoint Research,” says a Indian Express report.

-Help taken from Gork & DeepSeek for this article.