Trump Targets Apple’s India Operations With Tariff Ultimatum

Apple was given a severe warning by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, who threatened to levy a 25 percent tariff on the company's goods if iPhones were still made in India or any other non-US nation. One of the biggest IT companies in America may see a decline in sales and profit margins as a result of the announcement, which was made on social media, that iPhone prices will rise dramatically.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else." He added, "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US."

This declaration places Apple alongside other major corporations like Amazon and Walmart, which have also faced pressure under Trump's trade policies. Companies are grappling with uncertainty and inflationary challenges resulting from Trump's tariff-driven economic strategy.

Apple Maintains Commitment to India

Despite the threat, Apple has shown no signs of reversing its operations in India. According to Indian government sources, officials have held discussions with Apple executives after Trump's remarks. The company reaffirmed that its investment plans in India are unchanged.

"Apple has said that its investment plans in India are firm and it proposes to continue to have India as a major manufacturing base for its products," a senior government official confirmed.

India Produces 40 Million iPhones Annually

Approximately 40 million iPhones are being assembled annually in India by Apple, accounting for 15% of the company's worldwide manufacturing. The two main manufacturing companies in the nation are Tata Electronics, which recently replaced Pegatron, and Foxconn, which operates in Tamil Nadu. With new plants and production lines being developed to boost output, both companies are aggressively growing their infrastructure.

India considers Apple's presence crucial to its economic growth. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently stated that iPhone exports from India reached ₹1.5 lakh crore (approximately $18 billion) in the financial year 2025. The tech giant's supply chain in India is estimated to generate employment for nearly 200,000 people.

(With inputs from PTI)