Trump wants Apple to stop production of iPhones in India

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop producing iPhones in India, and rather make them in the US.

- Press Trust of India

Apple has no smartphone production in the US - most of its iPhones are made in China while facilities in India produce around 40 million units per year (about 15 per cent of Apple's annual output).

Trump, who in his second term as President is pushing for local manufacturing, said Apple will be "upping their production in the United States."

Soon after Trump's comments in Doha, Qatar, Indian government officials spoke to Apple executives, who assured that Apple's investment plans for India are intact and the company proposes to make the country a major manufacturing base for its products.

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said of his conversation with Apple's CEO, in Doha. “I said to him, Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very well. You're coming in with USD 500 billion (investment). But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India if you want to take care of India.”

Apple had earlier this year pledged to spend USD 500 billion in the US over the next four years.