India, May 15 -- Escalating the ongoing tariff war, US President Donald Trump has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop building manufacturing plants in India.

"We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves", Trump said he told Cook at an event in Qatar, as per Bloomberg.

The iPhone maker has been increasingly turning to India as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on China.

The US president said he discouraged Apple's CEO from manufacturing in India as it is "one of the highest-tariff nations in the world".

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good. You are coming up with $500 Bn but now I hear you are building all over India. I don't wan...