Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner mentioned the corporate would begin importing iPhones manufactured in India to satisfy the vast majority of demand stateside. It appears U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t proud of that.
Talking at a enterprise summit in Doha, Trump said he met with Cook dinner and requested him to cease constructing in India and as an alternative improve manufacturing in the US.
“I mentioned to him, ‘Tim, you’re my buddy, I’ve handled you excellent. You’re arising with $500 billion, however now I hear you might be constructing throughout India. I don’t need you constructing in India. You may construct in India, if you wish to deal with India as a result of India is among the highest tariff nations on this planet’,” Trump mentioned.
Trump, who has been on a tariff offensive towards many of the world, mentioned Apple would now be “upping” manufacturing within the U.S., although he didn’t give a timeline or any specifics.
Apple didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Earlier this 12 months, Apple mentioned that it will spend $500 billion over the subsequent 4 years to broaden manufacturing within the U.S. by organising amenities in numerous areas, opening new models, hiring over 20,000 folks, and opening a producing academy.
Trump’s feedback come a day after India authorised a $435 million Foxconn challenge to fabricate Apple chips within the nation. The corporate has had formidable plans to ramp up manufacturing in India and create various manufacturing models that cut back its reliance on China.
A Bloomberg report in April suggested Apple already produces 20% of its iPhones in India. On the time, the Monetary Instances additionally reported that Apple planned to import all iPhones sold in the U.S. from India by 2026.