The commercial war precipitates the strategy of diversifying Apple’s production. According to Bloomberg and The Financial Times, Cupertino’s firm plans to transfer to India at the end of 2026, the assembly lines of its iPhone for the US market to avoid the customs tasks of Donald Trump.
Apple, who today sells about 60 million iPhone per year in the United States, produces most of its smartphones in China, particularly through its Foxconn subcontractor. But in the face of the protectionist offensive of the White House tenant who went to Beijing as the main enemy, the American company seems ready to adapt.
A commercial agreement between India and the United States?
In fact, Donald Trump has exceeded several times in recent weeks, to the point of imposing customs duties of 145% against Chinese products. If the US president has finally decided to reduce surcharges aimed at smartphones, these repeated attacks push Apple to take their precautions by resorting to India.
Initially, India was attacked by 26% of US customs duties, but the latter were suspended and reduced to 10% as for all other countries, with the exception of China. New Delhi also hopes to conclude a commercial agreement with Washington to minimize these surcharges. The discussions about this agreement advance thanks to the “very good progress”, praised the American vice president JD Vance about the moving in India this week.
A diversification began for several years
Apple did not wait for Donald Trump to start diversifying his production. According to Bloomberg, the company that for several years wishes to depend on China has gathered for $ 22 billion in India in India in the last twelve months, an increase of almost 60% for a year.
From now on, the group brings together 20% of its iPhone in India, mainly in the Foxonn factory in the south of the country. However, China remains its main production country.
Source: BFM TV
