India is cutting back its import duty on iPhones and also selected iPhone components, meaning it will cost Apple less to bring in completed phones, and to make new ones locally.
Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India
At least one reason that Apple even began producing iPhones in India was because locally-made devices have avoided the country’s 20% import tax. In recent years, iPhone manufacturing in India has increased radically, with the region specifically benefitting from Apple’s moves to reduce its dependency on China.
According to Reuters, the Indian government has now announced that its import rate will be cut to 15%. Saying that it is in the “interest of consumers,” the government is reducing the import tax on smartphones, mobile phone chargers, and printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).