U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Apple to relocate iPhone manufacturing from India to American soil, challenging the tech giant’s global supply chain strategy.
During a Qatar visit, Trump directly addressed CEO Tim Cook: “I don’t want you building in India. India can take care of themselves.”
Apple’s current expansion in India aims to produce most U.S.-sold iPhones there by 2026, part of its China-diversification plan.
However, analysts note U.S. production would face hurdles including 30-40% higher labor costs and supply chain complexities that could significantly increase retail prices.
While Apple invests $500 billion domestically in engineering and AI, large-scale iPhone assembly remains overseas, highlighting the clash between political priorities and global manufacturing realities.
