US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Apple on Friday, saying the company should face a 25% tariff if it manufactures iPhones in “India or anyplace else.” Trump asserted that he had already informed Apple CEO Tim Cook that he expects iPhones sold in the US to be made in America.Trump took to his Truth Social platform, directly addressing the Apple CEO claiming that, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s 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 your for your attention to this matter!” he added.
The remarks come at a time when Apple is aggressively expanding its manufacturing footprint in India. The company, along with its key suppliers, has been shifting production out of China, a move accelerated by pandemic-related disruptions and ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
‘I don’t want you building in India’
During a previous state visit to Qatar, Trump recounted a conversation with Cook in which he criticised Apple’s increasing investment in India.Trump said, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India.”“I don’t want you building in India. India can take care of themselves,” Trump reportedly told Cook on May 15.
Trump was referring to Apple’s earlier pledge to invest $500 billion in the United States, announced in February.During the technology firm’s first-quarter earnings announcement in early May, Cook stated that “a majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin”.Apple has increased its production in India, aiming to manufacture approximately 25% of global iPhones in the country within the next few years, whilst reducing its dependence on China, where about 90% of its flagship smartphones are currently assembled.The company produced roughly $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the year ending March 2025, showing a 60% rise from the previous year.At present, India manufactures one in five iPhones globally, demonstrating the company’s efforts to distribute production beyond China amidst ongoing trade disputes.
Trump declares 50% tariff on EU
Trump also said that his administration would impose a 50 per cent tariff on the European Union as trade talks were “going nowhere”.Miffed at Washington’s current trade deficit with the European Union, Trump said the Bloc was formed “for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States “.“Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the US of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable,” he posted on Truth Social.“Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.
Trump threat shakes European markets, Apple shares fall
Stock markets in both the US and Europe experienced significant declines early Friday following his social media announcements regarding tariffs targeting Apple and the EU.Prior to market opening, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures decreased by 1.5%, whilst Nasdaq futures fell 1.7%. Both oil prices and Treasury yields experienced downward movements.European markets dropped sharply following Trump’s post on Truth Social. Germany’s DAX fell 1.9%, France’s CAC 40 dropped 2.4%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 declined 1.1%.Apple shares also fell 3.8% in morning trading after Trump warned that the company could face a 25% tariff if it continues making iPhones outside the United States.
