Apple is rapidly shifting iPhone production to India, but at the same time Washington is increasing pressure on New Delhi over its energy ties with Moscow. While the tech giant ramps up operations in five Indian plants, the White House is threatening secondary sanctions and higher tariffs.

Washington Warns Against “Opportunistic Trade” With Moscow

The U.S. government claims India is buying cheap Russian oil and reselling it on global markets, profiting from the war in Ukraine. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that Washington is preparing secondary tariffs on Indian imports, accusing the country of “exploiting the situation.”

Donald Trump, who has returned to the White House, already warned in July that unless a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached by September, countries continuing to trade with Moscow could face tariffs of up to 100%. Earlier this month, he raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50%.

Apple Produces iPhone 17 in Five Indian Factories

Amid this trade standoff, Apple is expanding production in India. The company is working with Tata and Foxconn Technology, ramping up capacity at five plants and preparing a special model, the iPhone 17e for the Indian market, scheduled for launch next year.

The move is part of Apple’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on China, which has long dominated its supply chains. In May, analytics firm Canalys reported that iPhone exports from India to the U.S. surged 76%, underscoring India’s growing role for Apple.

At the same time, the company pledged to invest over $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, including a fresh $2.5 billion injection into Corning, Apple’s glass supplier. These investments are seen as a way to maintain good relations with Washington and avoid future tariff disputes.

Modi Balances Between Washington and Moscow

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is carefully navigating between the two powers. He publicly thanked Vladimir Putin for sharing details of his recent phone call with Donald Trump. According to the Indian Express, India has found itself in a “geopolitical game of chicken,” trying to maintain lucrative energy ties with Moscow without completely alienating Washington.

Trump’s top trade advisers, however, branded India’s actions as “opportunistic and destabilizing”, arguing that they undermine global efforts to isolate Russia’s war economy.

Belarus Offers to Mediate

Belarus has also stepped into the spotlight, signaling its readiness to host peace talks if Moscow requests it. President Alexander Lukashenko’s spokesperson Natalia Eismont said Minsk is prepared to facilitate any meeting aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, though she clarified that the option was not specifically discussed during a recent phone call between Lukashenko and Trump.

#Apple , #India , #iPhone , #Geopolitics , #Tariffs

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