Donald Trump's tariff deals: End of the beginning in global standoff

Many experts thought that Mr Trump's aim was to lock China out of the global trade chains by striking major deals with big, long-term trading partners and allies. They were wrong

Last week, American President Donald Trump fired a salvo against Apple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook, demanding that iPhones be made in the United States (US), not India. This marks a fresh escalation in his “America First” crusade. The outburst, laced with characteristic bluster, came despite Mr Cook’s earlier pledge of $500 billion in US investment. In 2024-25, Apple churned out 40 million iPhones in India, worth $22 billion, with 32 million units ($17.5 billion) exported to the US, Europe, and West Asia. By 2026, the tech giant aims to assemble all US-bound iPhones here, scaling up production to