3 Things iPhone production in India, Siang anti-dam protests, and a student's arrest
May 28, 2025
Soumyarendra Barik from The Indian Express discusses Apple's strategic pivot to ramp up iPhone production in India, highlighting the complexities of US trade tensions and the implications for global manufacturing. Sukrita Baruah delves into the controversial Upper Siang hydropower project that has enraged local communities, emphasizing ecological and societal impacts. The conversation also touches on the arrest of a Pune engineering student over a social media post, raising questions about governmental accountability and civil liberties in India.
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Apple's India Production Shift
- Apple's decision to increase iPhone production in India is driven by trade uncertainties related to China and US tariffs.
- Shifting production helps Apple avoid tariffs and reduce reliance on China's manufacturing ecosystem.
Challenges of Reshoring Manufacturing
- Trump's tariffs aim to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US but ignore complex supply chain realities.
- Shifting supply chains like China's extensive network takes years and huge investment not quickly replicated.
China's Skilled Workforce Advantage
- China’s manufacturing strength lies in its large pool of skilled professionals, not just low labor costs.
- Tim Cook emphasized China’s unmatched availability of tooling engineers compared to the US.