Donald Trump is back in the White House, and he’s got Apple in his sights. The US President, now in his second term, has been crystal clear: he wants iPhone production back in the US. He has even threatened a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones assembled in India, reportedly warning Apple CEO Tim Cook directly. You’d think that kind of pressure would have Apple scrambling to relocate factories stateside. But they’re not. Instead, Apple is doubling down on India, pouring billions into manufacturing there. Why? It combines shrewd geopolitics, cold, hard economics, and a long-term wager that India’s benefits outweigh Trump’s tariff threats.

Compared to the United States, manufacturing iPhones in India is incredibly affordable. The International Labour Organisation estimates that a factory worker in India makes around $230 per month. In California, a similar worker earns around $2,900 a month. That’s a twelve-fold difference. Even if Trump imposes a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones coming from India, the maths still favour staying put. The cost of labour, combined with other expenses like land and utilities, makes US manufacturing a tough sell.

The government of India is practically rolling out the red carpet for Apple. Through its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, India offers........

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