US President Donald Trump has said that it is okay for Apple to go to India and make its mobile or other devices, but then the company will not be able to sell its products in America without tariffs. Trump's statement came when he signed several executive orders in the Oval Office to promote American nuclear energy. Trump said on Friday, 'I agreed with Tim Cook that he would not do this. He said he was going to India to set up or build a plant. I said it is okay to go to India, but you will not sell here without tariffs and this is the way it is.'

'... not in India or anywhere else'

Trump said that we are talking about the iPhone. If they are going to sell it in America, then I want it to be made in the United States. On Friday morning, Trump said in a post on social media that he hopes that Apple iPhones sold in America will be manufactured in America itself, not in India or anywhere else. He threatened that if the tech company did not do so, he would impose a 25 percent tariff on its products.

'Apple will have to pay at least 25 percent tariff'
Trump said, 'I had told Apple's Tim Cook a long time ago that I hope that his iPhones sold in America will be manufactured in America, not in India or anywhere else. If this does not happen, then Apple will have to pay at least a 25 percent tariff to America. Thank you for paying attention to this matter!'

Just last week, Trump had raised the issue during his visit to the Middle East.
Just last week, during his visit to the Middle East, Trump said in Doha that he had told the CEO of Apple not to make iPhones in India. Instead, he should carry forward his work in America. Addressing top officials in Doha, Trump said that as you know, we have Apple. Yesterday I had a little problem with Tim Cook. Trump had said, 'I told him, Tim, you are my friend. I did a great job with you. You are coming here with USD 500 billion, but now I am hearing that you are going to set up plants all over India. I don't want you to manufacture in India. India can take care of itself. If you want to take care of India, you can manufacture in India, because India is one of the highest tariff countries in the world. It is very difficult to sell in India. India has offered us a deal where they are willing to charge us no tariffs.

India will be the country of origin for most iPhones sold in the US: Cook.

Earlier this month, Cook said in the second quarter 2025 earnings conference call that the current tariffs applied to Apple today are based on the country of origin of the product. For the June quarter, we expect the country of origin of most iPhones sold in the US to be India and the country of origin of almost all iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods products sold in the US to be Vietnam.

Apple's status in India

Apple has been steadily increasing its manufacturing capacity in India over the past few years. The company manufactures iPhones in the country through contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron. These efforts also realize India's goal of attracting more foreign investment in electronics and reducing dependence on imports. However, Trump's recent statements have raised a cloud of crisis over it.

More than 6 crore iPhones sold in America were planned to be made in India.

Earlier, a report had come, which claimed that the giant tech company Apple is planning to manufacture all the iPhones sold in America in India from next year. This will not only boost Make in India but will also strengthen India's position towards becoming a global manufacturing hub. The report claimed that Apple wants to completely shift the production of more than 6 crore iPhones sold in America to the Indian plant by the end of 2026.

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