Trump administration promised Cook no iPhone tariffs
Apple's CEO has emerged as a major diplomatic voice for the tech world, seeking to calm relations between the U.S. and China, a new report says.
According to a New York Times analysis published Monday, Tim Cook, in the Trump era, "has had to act a lot like the tech industry's top diplomat." For example, Cook recently met with Trump in the Oval Office on April 25, and called for "calmer heads" at a summit meeting in China the month before.
The Times reported for the first time that the administration has promised Cook that even as tariffs on Chinese goods move ahead, the U.S. government will not extend those restrictions to iPhone. It also reported further on Cook's meeting with Trump, which involved economic adviser Larry Kudlow and consisted mostly of the CEO praising last year's tax reform law, while also lobbying the president against a trade war with China.
The story does not clarify whether the no-iPhone-tariffs promise came in that White House meeting or at another time, nor whether it was delivered to Cook by the president himself or by someone else in the administration.
Interestingly, Cook has found cabinet members in the Trump administration more accessible than their Obama era counterparts. In particular, the Apple chief has agreed on issues with Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and, to a lesser extent, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, the report said.
In addition, the Times detailed Cook's itinerary on his March visit to China, where he met with multiple senior figures in the Chinese government. Apple's attempts to cozy up to Chinese leadership has been nicknamed "Red Apple" by employees at Apple supplier Foxconn.
China, throughout Cook's tenure as CEO, has become more and more important to Apple, both for supply chain reasons and because of the importance of China as a market.
Also in the Times piece, it's noted that the president has repeatedly told crowds that "Apple [plans] to build multiple factories in the United States. Apple has no plans to do so and has not publicly corrected him."
According to a New York Times analysis published Monday, Tim Cook, in the Trump era, "has had to act a lot like the tech industry's top diplomat." For example, Cook recently met with Trump in the Oval Office on April 25, and called for "calmer heads" at a summit meeting in China the month before.
The Times reported for the first time that the administration has promised Cook that even as tariffs on Chinese goods move ahead, the U.S. government will not extend those restrictions to iPhone. It also reported further on Cook's meeting with Trump, which involved economic adviser Larry Kudlow and consisted mostly of the CEO praising last year's tax reform law, while also lobbying the president against a trade war with China.
The story does not clarify whether the no-iPhone-tariffs promise came in that White House meeting or at another time, nor whether it was delivered to Cook by the president himself or by someone else in the administration.
Interestingly, Cook has found cabinet members in the Trump administration more accessible than their Obama era counterparts. In particular, the Apple chief has agreed on issues with Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and, to a lesser extent, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, the report said.
In addition, the Times detailed Cook's itinerary on his March visit to China, where he met with multiple senior figures in the Chinese government. Apple's attempts to cozy up to Chinese leadership has been nicknamed "Red Apple" by employees at Apple supplier Foxconn.
Trade war and peace
Apple's efforts are essentially focused on maintaining close ties with both governments and avoiding trade-related acrimony, which Cook and other Apple leaders consider bad for business.China, throughout Cook's tenure as CEO, has become more and more important to Apple, both for supply chain reasons and because of the importance of China as a market.
Also in the Times piece, it's noted that the president has repeatedly told crowds that "Apple [plans] to build multiple factories in the United States. Apple has no plans to do so and has not publicly corrected him."
Comments
Resist the urge to squabble.
multinational and getting into a trade war hurts all Americans not just foreign countries.
A restoration of tariffs is the first step toward abolishing the Federal Reserve, and consequently the income tax. As such, it should be supported by anyone who isn’t in favor of literal human slavery. Oh, and a reminder that the Romans made usury illegal because whereas even their chattel slavery was time-based, usury is forever.
cf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_auction_facility
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodd–Frank_Wall_Street_Reform_and_Consumer_Protection_Act
and
https://congressionaldish.com/cd174-bank-lobbyist-act/
maybe
https://congressionaldish.com/cd175-state-of-war/
If you think the 'Great Recession' was interesting, wait until you see what is lined up next.
China is often not even operating in its citzens best interest. For instance one of the biggest item smuggled into China mainland is milk powder / baby formula that due most of China losing all confidence the domestic supply. That loss of confidence is due to many horror stores some if which are known in the west. A rational economy would address this by oping up to trade. Instead China has trade barriers that hurt the Chinese themselves.
So you have to ask yourself why should we suffer as an economy when we open our doors while being shut out around the world. This isnt just about china but rather the realization that free trade is hardly that if you are an American business.
Trump is an asshole, a jerk, and any other epithet you can throw at him but at least he’s trying to bring the problem to the front burner.
But, yes, free trade would be what an economic system would be shooting for, where the term 'free' means fair, not anything goes.
It wasn’t.
Hopefully you don’t starve when the Second Great Depression hits. Not insulting at all; I seriously just hope you learn from this nonsense.
I’m directly addressing the banks as the cause of this problem, though. You realize that inflation before the Reserve was -0.2%? Negative. From the founding of the country to 1913. And when the Reserve finally got what they wanted in 1971? Fucking asymptotic.
Yeah, I don't like Trump either as a person, and disagree with several of his policies.... but he's at least trying to kick at some of the things that need to be addressed. He's going to have a really hard time, though... as what he's up against is pretty bi-partisan.
No, don't worry. Have another beer (or smoke some more weed if it's legal where you are). Everything is going to be just fine.
I'll put my tinfoil hat back on if it makes you feel better.