NEW DELHI: After US President Donald Trump claimed he had advised Apple CEO Tim Cook against manufacturing in India, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal on Thursday pushed back, saying that companies will decide based on where the advantage lies, and India, he emphasized, is now a competitive global hub for smartphone production.“Companies will see competitive advantage while deciding their manufacturing strategy. India has emerged as a competitive hub for smartphone manufacturing,” Barthwal told reporters.Asked directly about the US President’s remarks, Barthwal responded, “We don’t comment on what the President (of another country) says.”His remarks come days after reports emerged that Trump had privately suggested to the Apple boss that the company should steer clear of manufacturing in India. The tech giant, however, has already made major inroads into India’s manufacturing ecosystem. Apple currently assembles iPhones in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, partnering with contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Tata Group to set up large-scale production units.Zero-tariff trade deal? India says negotiations still onBarthwal also weighed in on a separate claim made by the US president during a recent appearance in Doha, that India had offered the United States a trade deal with zero tariffs.“Any statement which is coming from the head of a government elsewhere, I think it has been appropriately replied to at the level of the external affairs minister. So, I would not like to comment any further,” the commerce secretary said.Earlier, external affairs minister S Jaishankar addressed the President’s remarks, saying, “Trade is going on between India and the US. These are complicated negotiations and no final agreement has been reached yet.”Trade talks ‘progressing well’Despite the political noise, Barthwal signaled that bilateral trade negotiations with the United States are moving in the right direction. “The talks are progressing very well, and a team is set to go to the US to conduct further discussions with them,” he said.On April 23, Trump had said that both countries had finalized the terms of reference for the ongoing trade negotiations. “Both governments are working on a trade agreement built on shared priorities, including creating new jobs, building durable supply chains, and achieving prosperity for workers,” he said.
