US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Apple, stating that if the tech giant continues to go ahead with its plan of expanding manufacturing in India, it could face stiff tariffs on products sold in America. Trump has threatened to put a 25 per cent tariff on the company’s products if it fails to comply.
“But I had an understanding with Tim (Cook) that he wouldn’t be doing this. He said he’s going to India to build plants. I said, ‘That’s okay to go to India, but you’re not going to sell into here without tariffs.’ And that’s the way it is,” Trump said on Friday as he signed several executive orders in the Oval Office to boost US nuclear power.
Trump emphasised that iPhones intended for American consumers should be made domestically. “We’re talking about the iPhone. If they’re going to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Trump took to social media to reiterate his stance. He said in a social media post that he expects Apple iPhones sold in the US will be manufactured in America and “not India, or anyplace else”.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.
Last week, the US president spoke about a prior exchange with Apple’s CEO during a recent trip to the Middle East. Speaking in Doha, he told business leaders, “I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend. I treated you very good. You’re coming here with USD 500 billion but now I hear you building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”
He further criticised India’s high tariffs on imports and highlighted the country’s offer to lower tariffs as part of ongoing negotiations. “You can build in India if you want to take care of India because India is the highest, one of the highest tariff nations in the world. It’s very hard to sell into India. And they’ve (India) offered us a deal where, basically they’re willing to literally charge us no tariff,” he had said.
