India has down played US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Apple’s manufacturing in India.
India Today quoted a government official stating that the “country remains a significant hub for mobile phone production and continues to attract global companies due to manufacturing competitiveness”.
A government source told CNBC-TV18 that when asked specifically about Trump’s statement, the official declined to comment but noted, “India has become a consistent player in mobile production through the Make in India initiative.”
The official added that decisions by companies like Apple are based on global competitiveness and not influenced by political statements. “Companies go by their own competitiveness vis-a-vis other companies,” the official said.
Speaking in Doha earlier this week, President Trump, According to Indian Express, said he had expressed dissatisfaction to Apple CEO Tim Cook about the company manufacturing iPhones in India. Trump said, “Tim, you're my friend. But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India if you want to take care of India.” He also stated that Apple would increase production in the U.S., though no specific details were provided.
Apple has not issued a public response. However, according to a report by PTI, Indian government officials have been in contact with Apple executives, who reportedly confirmed that the company’s manufacturing and investment plans in India remain unchanged. India remains a key location in Apple’s global supply chain.
As per Economic times, In the financial year between April 2024 and March 2025, Apple assembled iPhones worth an estimated $22 billion in India, reflecting a 60% increase over the previous year. Approximately 40 million iPhones — about 15% of Apple’s global output — are produced in India. The majority of these devices are exported, primarily to the United States. In March 2025 alone, India exported more than 3 million iPhones to the U.S., accounting for nearly 98% of Apple’s international shipments that month, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Apple’s suppliers in India include Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics. Foxconn has also started manufacturing AirPods in Telangana for export. The Apple supplier ecosystem in India has generated approximately 200,000 jobs, according to PTI.
Bilateral trade between India and the United States reached $129 billion in 2024. India has a trade surplus of over $45 billion with the U.S., which has been a point of discussion between the two governments. India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to lead a delegation to the U.S. beginning May 16 to hold discussions on trade and investment.
