United States President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he had told Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook not to expand the technology company’s production in India, Bloomberg reported.

“I said I don’t want you [Apple] building in India,” the US president said at an event in Qatar, adding that he had told Cook that “India can take care of themselves, they are doing very well”.

Trump also claimed that Apple would be “upping their production” in the US because of his talks with Cook.

This came in light of attempts by Apple to diversify its manufacturing beyond China, where it makes most of its iPhones, amid tariff and geopolitical concerns, The Economic Times reported.

The company does not manufacture its smartphones in the US. It plans to source the majority of its US iPhone supply from India by the end of next year to reduce its dependence on China.

Trump also claimed that India had offered not to charge tariffs on products from the US, Bloomberg reported.

“India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world,” Trump said, reiterating his administration’s position. “It is very hard to sell in India.”

New Delhi had “offered us a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariff”, he added.

Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs imposed on several countries, including a 26% “discounted” levy on India, took effect on April 9. Hours later, however, Trump had reduced the rates on imports from most countries to 10% for 90 days to provide time for trade negotiations.

The US president had repeatedly said he intended to impose a reciprocal tax on India, among others, citing high tariffs the countries impose on foreign goods.

The tariffs had led to concerns of a broader trade war that could disrupt the global economy and trigger recession.

The Indian government has said that it is in talks with Washington to finalise a bilateral trade agreement between September and November.

Trump’s remarks on Thursday also came six days after India notified the World Trade Organization that it may impose retaliatory tariffs on the US after Washington increased the import duties on aluminium and steel to 25%.

India’s levies may take effect a month from the date it notified the World Trade Organization.

New Delhi said that the actions were safeguard measures.

‘Nothing is decided till everything is’: S Jaishankar

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated that trade talks were ongoing between India and the US, ANI reported.

Noting that these were “complicated negotiations”, the minister said: “Nothing is decided till everything is.”

Jaishankar added that any trade deal had to be mutually beneficial for both countries. “That would be our expectation from the trade deal,” he said. “Until that is done, any judgment on it would be premature.”

Need explicit answer from Centre: Opposition

Following Trump’s claims about tariffs, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday asked the Union government to clarify if it was a “fact”.

In a post on X, the Opposition leader added: “That needs an explicit answer from the Government.”