Apple's Manufacturing Shift to China

The Geopolitical Impact of Apple's Move

Challenges of Manufacturing in India

Apple's Dependency on China Industry Clusters

Key Figures in Apple's Manufacturing Journey

Overview of Patrick McGee's Book

Apple's Control Over Its Production Ecosystem

India's Ambitions to Rival China

Questions About Apple's Future

Introduction to the Episode

Apple's Response to the Book

Interview with Patrick McGee Begins

Patrick McGee's Background and Book Origin

Challenges in Researching Apple

Apple's Pyramid Structure of Design

Manufacturing Design and Geopolitical Elements

 Consolidation of Apple's Manufacturing  China

Apple's Cultural Operation Challenges in China

The Impact of Apple's Success in China

Speculations on Apple's Alternative Paths

India's Potential Challenges in Manufacturing

The Geopolitical Tussle and Apple's Future

From Steve Jobs’s design obsession to Cold War-like entanglements in China, Apple’s supply chain story is as much geopolitical as it is operational. In this episode of The Morning Brief, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Dia Rekhi speak with Financial Times’ lead Apple reporter, journalist and author Patrick McGee, whose new book explores how Apple’s reliance on China helped build both the iPhone and China’s manufacturing dominance. From Foxconn’s factory cities to Tim Cook’s “Uber of manufacturing” model, the conversation traces how Apple’s pursuit of speed and scale created strategic dependence. 

As trade tensions escalate and India eyes its own role, Patrick unpacks why China’s ecosystem is still unmatched and whether democratic countries can replicate its efficiency without compromising core values. In a world of fragile ties and rising tariffs, the episode asks can the company pivot from China without dismantling the very machine it built.

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You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & Twitter

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.


Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

From Steve Jobs&rsquo;s design obsession to Cold War-like entanglements in China, Apple&rsquo;s supply chain story is as much geopolitical as it is operational. In this episode of The Morning Brief, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Dia Rekhi speak with Financial Times&rsquo; lead Apple reporter, journalist and author Patrick McGee, whose new book explores how Apple&rsquo;s reliance on China helped build both the iPhone and China&rsquo;s manufacturing dominance. From Foxconn&rsquo;s factory cities to Tim Cook&rsquo;s &ldquo;Uber of manufacturing&rdquo; model, the conversation traces how Apple&rsquo;s pursuit of speed and scale created strategic dependence. As trade tensions escalate and India eyes its own role, Patrick unpacks why China&rsquo;s ecosystem is still unmatched and whether democratic countries can replicate its efficiency without compromising core values. In a world of fragile ties and rising tariffs, the episode asks can the company pivot from China without dismantling the very machine it built. Tune In You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dia-rekhi-702438104/?originalSubdomain=in">Linkedin</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/diarekhiET">Twitter </a>You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnirbanET">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/">Linkedin </a>Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000702130670">Tariffs trump trade</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701174049">The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701977001">The Influencer Economy&rsquo;s Quiet Reset</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000700201610">India&rsquo;s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>.
 Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay">ET Play</a>, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

To make sense of the week’s hottest stories in business, economy, politics and markets, journalists from the Economic Times chat with reporters and industry leaders in this thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) podcast.

The Morning Brief

Patrick McGee on the Apple-China Toxic Nexus and Where India Stands