Doha: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had a conversation with Apple CEO Tim Cook, urging him to prioritize expanding production facilities in the United States rather than India. During a visit to Qatar, Trump highlighted his discussions with Cook, emphasizing his preference for Apple's investments to remain within the US.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump expressed his concerns to Cook about Apple's decision to expand production in India, despite the company's significant investment plans in the US. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump remarked, referencing Apple's commitment to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years. He conveyed to Cook his desire for Apple to increase its production efforts domestically.

The US President highlighted the challenges of selling American goods in India, citing the country's high tariff barriers. Although he acknowledged India's offer of a "no-tariff" deal, Trump maintained his stance on encouraging US-based production. This conversation arises after Apple's announcement that the majority of products sold in the US, including iPhones, will soon be sourced from India and Vietnam, as opposed to China, which remains under stringent US tariffs.

Tim Cook previously stated that Vietnam would serve as the primary production site for most Apple products sold in the US, such as iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods. Despite these shifts, Cook assured that the majority of Apple's products sold outside the US would still be manufactured in China, benefiting from lower production costs.

Apple, like many tech firms in the US, has felt the impact of the tariffs, with its shares experiencing a decline of about 5.1% since the tariffs were imposed. The Trump administration has consistently encouraged Apple to relocate its production to the US, aligning with its broader economic policies.

This development follows a recent agreement between the US and China to roll back punitive tariffs for an initial 90-day period, offering a temporary reprieve in their ongoing trade conflict and sparking hopes for sustained economic stability.