Trump’s Tariff Tantrum: Why He Told Apple to Ditch India

Picture this: You’re Tim Cook, steering Apple through the choppy waters of global trade, when Donald Trump, the tariff-loving president, corners you at a business summit in Doha, Qatar, on May 15, 2025. “Tim, you’re my friend,” he says, “but I don’t want you building in India.” Wait. What? Is this a policy pitch or just Trump being Trump?

Let’s get rid of the noise. News outlets like Bloomberg say that Trump’s new order is a classic mix of bravado and economic nationalism. His high taxes made India an unsuitable partner, so he told Cook to stop making things in India and bring them back to the US. Trump told TechCrunch, “You can build in India if you want to take care of India. India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world.” It’s a strong request, but is it possible? Hint: Probably not.

Why India’s a Big Deal for Apple

Apple is in a serious relationship with India. India’s “Make in India” program, which was made to bring in foreign investment, offers tax breaks, a skilled workforce, and a market of 1.4 billion people who are willing to buy things. NDTV reports that India made 15% of the world’s iPhones in FY25 and sent more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth of them abroad, mostly to the US. Bloomberg reports that Apple plans to get all of its iPhones for the US from India by 2026. That’s not a small amount of money; it’s a strategic move away from China, where production is hard because of tariffs and geopolitical risks.