India Cuts Import Duties on Key iPhone Components to Boost Local Production

India has taken further steps to establish itself as a major hub for electronics manufacturing by eliminating import duties on certain components used in smartphones and other devices. The government removed customs tariffs of 7.5% and 5% on various essential parts involved in the production of mobile phones and electronic equipment.

According to a report by 9to5mac, the components exempted from these duties include key parts for manufacturing wireless charging units for mobile phones, display panels for medical devices and automobiles, and lithium-ion cells.

Details on India's Tariff Exemptions for Electronics Manufacturing

This initiative aligns with India's broader objective to increase the scale of its domestic electronics industry to $500 billion within the next four years. The tariff exemptions are set to remain in effect until March 31, 2029.

Manoj Mishra, a partner at management consulting firm Grant Thornton Bharat, stated that this move could accelerate efforts to expand iPhone production in India as part of the country’s strategy to reduce reliance on China. He added that the exemption on manufacturing lithium-ion cells might encourage investments in local battery production for electronics and electric mobility.

Recently, the structure of Apple’s iPhone manufacturing in India has attracted media attention. The company Tata, which assembles iPhones, experienced a data breach resulting in the theft and dark web release of over 200,000 files. Additionally, Tata is under scrutiny over allegations of water pollution near one of its iPhone parts manufacturing plants in India, following complaints from local farmers about the impact of wastewater on nearby land and water sources.