Apple has decided to manufacture every version of its upcoming iPhone 17 series in India and ship them to the United States, even though US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports. According to Bloomberg, production will cover all four models — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air — with sales starting next month in the US.
Trump’s Tariff Pressure on India and Apple
President Trump has launched what he calls an “anti-India campaign” by placing a 50 percent tariff on imports from India, the highest tariff rate in the world. He has also directly targeted Apple in the past, warning the company of further penalties for assembling iPhones in India. Despite these threats, Apple is sticking to its India-based production plan.
Shift From China to India
Earlier in 2025, Apple shifted most of its iPhone manufacturing for the US market from China to India. The decision was made to shield the company from the negative effects of the ongoing US-China trade war. Apple had already been slowly reducing its dependence on China over the past few years to diversify its supply chain. The Covid-19 pandemic made this shift even more urgent, as factory shutdowns in China had caused severe delays in production and disrupted global supply networks.
India’s Growing Role in Apple’s Supply Chain
Currently, about 20 percent of all iPhones sold worldwide are made in India, and experts predict this figure could rise to between 26 percent and 40 percent by 2027. This highlights India’s rapidly growing importance in Apple’s global manufacturing ecosystem.
Surge in Exports From India
The rise in production has also boosted India’s exports. Between April and July this year alone, Apple exported iPhones worth $7.5 billion from India. For comparison, the value of iPhone exports for the entire previous year was $17 billion, suggesting a significant surge in output.
Factories and Key Players
Apple’s iPhones are currently being produced at five major factories in India, operated by the Tata Group and Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn. In recent years, Tata has expanded its role by acquiring operations from other contract manufacturers like Wistron and Pegatron. It has also enlarged its own production facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
According to Bloomberg, factories owned by Tata are expected to produce nearly half of India’s total iPhone output within the next two years, showing the company’s rising influence in Apple’s supply chain.
