Apple Reaffirms India Ties Amid U.S. Objections

• Apple reaffirms commitment to India amid U.S. objections, maintaining investment plans.
• Indian officials and industry leaders remain unconcerned by Trump’s critical remarks.
• Expansion continues under the PLI scheme, solidifying India’s role in Apple’s supply chain.

India is downplaying the US President Trump's concerns regarding Apple manufacturing in India. Government sources told CNBC-TV18 that the tech giant has “assured the Indian government” that it will continue to use India as a major base to manufacture its products.

“There is no change in Apple’s investment plans in India,” the sources stated, indicating business as usual, despite Trump’s recent comments criticizing the company’s strategy in India. “We need to go deeper into the value chain and do more of the components locally,” Goel told CNBC-TV18, adding that India’s new Apple’s investment plans in India scheme would help achieve this.

Also Read: Trump Wants Apple to Stay in U.S., Opposes iPhone Shift to India

Trump acknowledged that India had offered a deal with “literally no tariffs,” but doubled down on his stance, saying, “We are not interested in you building in India… We want you to build here [in the US].” The rhetoric doesn't seem to deter the Indian electronics industry. Rajoo Goel, Secretary General of the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA), said the country must continue to pursue and strengthen its electronics value chain.

"We must go deeper into the value chain and do more of the components domestically," Goel told CNBC-TV18, noting India's new electronic component manufacturing program would help facilitate this.

Reacting to Trump’s comments, Goel said, “It may slow things down a bit, but I really don’t think it is going to impact India that much. We are still doing a very small share of the global market for Apple.” Calling the remarks “just a statement,” Goel highlighted that India is on “a very strong footing” in electronics manufacturing. “Let us not get disheartened by this… I’m sure Donald Trump might change his stance,” he added.

India has recently emerged as an important hub for Apple’s global supply chain, with contract manufacturers, including Foxconn and Pegatron, rapidly expanding their operations under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme offered by the government.