Apple's assurance to Indian government after Donald Trump talks about his 'little problem' with CEO Tim Cook: 'There is no…'
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Apple
has reassured the Indian government that there will be "no change" in its investment plans for the country, government sources said, following US. President Donald Trump's public criticism of the tech giant's manufacturing presence in India.
"There is no change in Apple's investment plans in India," a government source told CNBC-TV18, adding that the company has "assured the Indian government" of its continued commitment to using India as a major manufacturing hub.
Trump's 'little problem' with Tim Cook
Trump revealed during a business event in Doha, Qatar on that he had confronted Apple CEO
Tim Cook
about the company's expanding operations in India. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good… but now I hear you are building all over India. I don't want you building in India," Trump stated.
The US President added that he had told Cook "India can take care of themselves" and that Apple would instead be "upping their production in the United States."
Despite these remarks, India's electronics industry remains confident. Rajoo Goel, Secretary General of the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA), downplayed potential impacts, telling CNBC-TV18, "It may slow things down a bit, but I really don't think it is going to impact India that much."
Goel characterized Trump's comments as "just a statement" and expressed optimism that the US President "might change his stance."
India becoming a major hub for iPhone manufacturing
India has become a critical manufacturing base for Apple, with the company now producing approximately $22 billion worth of iPhones in the country in the year ending March 2025, a 60% increase from the previous year. Currently, one in five iPhones worldwide is manufactured in India.
Trump also claimed that India has offered the US "a deal with basically no tariffs," though the Indian government has not yet commented on these specific remarks.
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