Kumar Bahukhandi
Donald Trump, US President – Photo: ANI
US President Trump has once again threatened Apple by telling it that it will have to manufacture iPhones in the US. In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said that if Apple does not do so, it will have to pay a 25 percent tariff.
US President Donald Trump has once again threatened Apple. On Friday May 23, 2025 (IST) he openly threatened that iPhones sold in the US should be made in the US. If they do this outside the US in India or any other country, it will be very costly for Apple. Trump said on Truth Social that if the technology company does not do this, then a 25% tariff will be imposed on Apple’s products. Along with this, Trump also said that he will impose ‘straight 50% tariff’ on the European Union from June 1. At the same time, after these threats of Trump, US futures and global markets registered a decline.
On Friday May 23 , 2025 , Trump posted this threat on Truth Social. He wrote in his post, ‘I had already told Apple’s Tim Cook about this long ago that I hope that his iPhones sold in the United States will be manufactured in the United States, not in India or any other place. If this does not happen, Apple will have to pay at least 25% tariff to America.’
iPhone prices may increase
After US President Donald Trump’s threat, there are speculations that iPhone prices may increase dramatically. Due to this, Apple’s sales and profits may suffer. Not only this, Apple has also come under the target of the White House along with Amazon Walmart and other major companies. Actually, these companies are trying to respond to the uncertainty and inflation pressure created by the tariffs imposed by Trump.
Similar threat was given last week too
Earlier last week also he had made a similar claim. Then US President Donald Trump had said that he had spoken to Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him not to expand Apple’s production in India. According to Bloomberg report, Trump had told Tim Cook at an event in Doha that we are not interested in you manufacturing in India. They can take care of themselves. They are doing very well.
At an event in Doha, Donald Trump had told Apple CEO Tim Cook that I had a little problem with Tim Cook. I told him Tim you are my friend. I think. You are very good. You are coming here with 500 billion dollars. But now I have heard that you are manufacturing in India. I don’t want you to manufacture in India. If you want to take care of India then you can manufacture in India. Because India is one of the countries with the highest tariffs in the world. So it is very difficult to sell in India.
Apple’s condition in India
It is worth mentioning that Apple is adjusting its supply chains due to Trump’s tariffs on China. In this regard, it is considering shifting iPhone manufacturing to India. In the last few years, Apple has been continuously increasing its manufacturing capacity in India. The company manufactures iPhones in the country through contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron. These efforts also realise India’s goal of attracting more foreign investment in electronics and reducing dependence on imports.
iPhone production is increasing in India
Let us tell you that this threat from Trump has come at a time when Apple has recently announced to expand its production in India. The company has already started manufacturing several models of iPhone in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. iPhone production is increasing in India. Now one in every 5 iPhones is assembled in India. iPhone production in India grew by 60% to Rs 1.89 lakh crore in 2024-25, including exports of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Major contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Pegatron assemble iPhones in India.
More than 6 crore iPhones sold in the US were set 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 the US 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 the US to the Indian plant by the end of 2026.
Emphasis on increasing retail sales too
Apple is planning to double its Indian production and increase retail sales by opening four new stores in Bangalore, Pune, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. Along with this, the company is going to recruit hundreds for roles in manufacturing and retail sector. Apple employs more than 3,000 people in India.
