New Delhi | WTNS | May 09: In a development that underscores a seismic shift in the global tech manufacturing order, Apple Inc. has announced that the majority of iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter will be manufactured in India—a strategic pivot influenced by rising geopolitical tensions and tariff wars between the U.S. and China.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, during a recent earnings call, stated that while he could not commit to long-term projections amid global uncertainty, India will serve as the primary origin for iPhones entering the U.S. market this quarter. “We wanted to give you clarity for the June quarter, though can’t predict beyond that,” Cook remarked.

According to trade data, India exported 3.1 million iPhones in March 2025 alone, marking a 219 percent increase over previous months. Significantly, 97.6 percent of these were shipped directly to the United States—a testament to Apple’s accelerated diversification from China.

The escalation follows renewed retaliatory tariffs introduced by the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, targeting Chinese electronics and telecom imports. Apple, caught in the crossfire, appears to be executing a swift reallocation of its supply chains.

Vietnam, another major Asian player, will now handle the majority of iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods headed to American consumers.

This transition is seen as a vote of confidence in India’s manufacturing ecosystem, bolstered by the Modi government’s flagship “Make in India” and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. However, experts caution that sustaining this momentum will require significant improvements in logistics, semiconductor fabrication, and labor policy.

“The tectonic plates of the global electronics economy are shifting. India stands at the edge of an opportunity it cannot afford to squander,” remarked Dr. Anjali Rao, senior economist at the Centre for Tech and Trade Policy.