New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump has said it is ok for Apple to go to India to build its plants, but then the tech company will not be able to sell its products in America without tariffs.
Trump’s remarks came as he signed multiple executive orders in the Oval Office to boost US nuclear power.
“…But I had an understanding with Tim (Cook) that he wouldn’t be doing this. He said he’s going to India to build plants. I said, ‘That’s okay to go to India, but you’re not going to sell into here without tariffs.’ And that’s the way it is,” Trump said on Friday.
“When they build their plant here, there’s no tariff. So they’re building plants here, but I had an understanding with him (Tim Cook) that he wouldn’t be doing this. He said he’s going to India to build plants. I said, that’s okay to go to India, but you’re not going to sell into here without tariffs. And that’s the way it is,” Trump was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Trump emphasized that these tariffs, potentially set at 25 per cent, would apply not just to Apple but to any company manufacturing similar products overseas, such as Samsung. “It wouldn’t be fair otherwise,” he added.
Trump exuded confidence that domestic manufacturing wouldn’t necessarily drive up consumer prices due to advancements in automation.
“These plants are amazing if you look at them, but they can do that. Apple’s coming in with 500 billion dollars. So are the chip companies coming in. The biggest 500 billion, 200 billion, 250 billion dollars they’re spending. But we’re talking about the iPhone now. And you know, the iPhone, if they’re to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States. They’re able to do that,” he said.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote,”I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones 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 U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he further added.
Trump also referenced major planned investments by tech and chip companies in the US, citing figures of up to USD 500 billion. “We’re talking about the iPhone now, but others are coming too,” he said.
Apple has yet to respond to Trump’s warning. This warning aligns with his wider push to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the United States. However, it remains uncertain whether such a tariff could be implemented.
