Apple is petitioning the Indian government to relax its product labeling rules for iPhones manufactured in India, The Economic Times reports. Apple’s concern is that the Indian regulatory requirements to print product-related information directly onto devices will clutter up the iPhone’s minimalist design; it’s said to be among several concessions Apple is seeking from India after expressing its intention to begin manufacturing there.
Apple wants to instead provide those required product details either in software or on the product packaging, rather than having to etch them directly onto the iPhone itself.
Another report from qq.com (via Digitimes) reveals that Apple’s China-based supply chain manufacturers would be unlikely to set up manufacturing operations in the U.S. even if Apple chose to shift production from China.
Chinese companies note that higher labor costs would preclude them from operating as efficiently, since even though power and land costs in the U.S. are lower than in China, the cost and complexity of labor would be significantly higher — not only because of higher wages, but also due to worker supply, median age, and willingness to accept varying working schedules.
