Apple says Trump tariffs would 'tilt the playing field' in favor of competitors

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 63
    LordeHawkLordeHawk Posts: 168member
    As an unintended consequence, Trump found a way of taxing one of the big tax avoiders. I guess the stock value should take a hit, but probably good for the US taxpayers.
    It is the legal responsibility of an American Corporation to increase profitability.  Apple has broken no US law by avoiding taxes when permitted.

    Thanks for your first post Apple bash.  Troll..!
    jony0
  • Reply 22 of 63
    normmnormm Posts: 653member
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    edited June 2019 tmayavon b7GeorgeBMacjony0FileMakerFellermuthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 23 of 63
    AppleZuluAppleZulu Posts: 2,008member
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    Trump plowed into office and ditched a Pacific Rim trade deal that would have created incredible leverage over China by making them “odd man out.” Instead, he thinks he can put the squeeze on them by unilaterally imposing a massive tax on the American people. He’s either too dumb or too dishonest to acknowledge that the other country doesn’t pay the tariffs. Trump was an “effective businessman” only insofar as he was able to make a lot of other people pay through the nose for his dishonesty and incompetence. 
    GeorgeBMacavon b7jony0mattinozFileMakerFellermuthuk_vanalingambadmonk
  • Reply 24 of 63
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    AppleZulu said:
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    Trump plowed into office and ditched a Pacific Rim trade deal that would have created incredible leverage over China by making them “odd man out.” Instead, he thinks he can put the squeeze on them by unilaterally imposing a massive tax on the American people. He’s either too dumb or too dishonest to acknowledge that the other country doesn’t pay the tariffs. Trump was an “effective businessman” only insofar as he was able to make a lot of other people pay through the nose for his dishonesty and incompetence. 
    True that.
    But what most are missing right now is that Trump is now making the U.S. the "odd man out".
    Few in the world agree with his claims or trust him.   Meanwhile China has already started going about the job of quietly building alliances -- without the the U.S. being part of them.   And, so far, the world seems to be fine with that.
    jony0muthuk_vanalingambadmonk
  • Reply 25 of 63
    wozwozwozwoz Posts: 263member
    There are lots of places where one can build product, and if there is a tax on product from China, one can move production to other source countries, including India where Apple is already producing, that will not attract such tax. And if companies do make such changes, then the effect of the impost is doubly effective.
  • Reply 26 of 63
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.
    His way of fix is simply stupid. His business strategy is making money by declaring bankruptcy. Making money out of suffering from other people. 
    GeorgeBMacjony0
  • Reply 27 of 63
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Tim Cook and/or the Apple board have been wearing blinders if they have failed to acknowledge political and business reality in this case. They should’ve been making plans to respond to tariffs on day one of the new administration. Did they think this President was kidding about following through on his campaign promises? Apple’s team has been negligent.
    Oh, so you serve on the board? You know for a fact that they haven’t been discussing and working on this possibility? 

    Oh. You don’t. I see. mkthx 
    Yes, I serve on the BoD. /eyeroll 
    avon b7
  • Reply 28 of 63
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    No, a tariff is a negotiating tool. Pres. Trump previously said, on the record, he’d rather have NO tariffs. Did you miss that?
  • Reply 29 of 63
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    No, a tariff is a negotiating tool. Pres. Trump previously said, on the record, he’d rather have NO tariffs. Did you miss that?
    Still waiting for the Great Negotiator to negotiate something.
    And waiting.
    And waiting.
    And waiting.
    jony0muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 30 of 63
    k2kwk2kw Posts: 2,075member
    seankill said:
    It won’t affect other competitors in the US because they build less stuff in China. Not sure that’s a valid reason in my book. 

    Apple should diversify more just in case. 
    It would be a little Ironic if the new Mac Pro ended up looking like the most affordable computer that Apple makes...   If Cook didn’t shut down the assembly plant in Texas.  
  • Reply 31 of 63
    k2kwk2kw Posts: 2,075member
    AppleZulu said:
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    Trump plowed into office and ditched a Pacific Rim trade deal that would have created incredible leverage over China by making them “odd man out.” Instead, he thinks he can put the squeeze on them by unilaterally imposing a massive tax on the American people. He’s either too dumb or too dishonest to acknowledge that the other country doesn’t pay the tariffs. Trump was an “effective businessman” only insofar as he was able to make a lot of other people pay through the nose for his dishonesty and incompetence. 
    The tax is paid only by those who buy Apple Products. It’s hardly a massive tax on the American people until Apple moves production to a new country or China agrees to a new Trade deal.
  • Reply 32 of 63
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,861administrator
    k2kw said:
    AppleZulu said:
    normm said:
    georgie01 said:
    Meaningful change requires sacrifice....

    What Trump is trying to fix is a good thing. He understands that making sacrifices, sometimes significant sacrifices, to accomplish good things is the most effective path. But we as a culture are too selfish to tolerate it.

    Look at Jobs. He was a perfect example of sacrifice and hacking things off aggressively in order to push forward. And he was ridiculed for it, because we as a society hate change and loss.

    Just sit tight. Trump is an effective businessman whether you like him or not. He may sometimes fail, but chances are he won’t. And if he doesn’t, then we’ll be in a better position as a country. Despite what the media and left likes to deceive the nation about Trump, he’s accomplished some extremely good things that other presidents have been too weak to do.

    Trump doesn't believe that a tariff is a tax on us.  He hires the only economists in the world who agree with him that balance of payments with China is an issue, and who think that making China's economy weaker will improve this.  There is a real issue related to IP, but this isn't going to do anything about that.  Trump has thrown out the whole world structure of sensible low tariffs to act on his own uninformed whims.  This is an f-ing disaster!  

    I agree that Trump is not weak.  But the only thing he's been effective at is fooling people and destroying things.

    Trump plowed into office and ditched a Pacific Rim trade deal that would have created incredible leverage over China by making them “odd man out.” Instead, he thinks he can put the squeeze on them by unilaterally imposing a massive tax on the American people. He’s either too dumb or too dishonest to acknowledge that the other country doesn’t pay the tariffs. Trump was an “effective businessman” only insofar as he was able to make a lot of other people pay through the nose for his dishonesty and incompetence. 
    The tax is paid only by those who buy Apple Products. It’s hardly a massive tax on the American people until Apple moves production to a new country or China agrees to a new Trade deal.
    WalMart has the same complaint for the same reasons. That certainly counts a massive tax on the American people.
    GeorgeBMac
  • Reply 33 of 63
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member
    As an unintended consequence, Trump found a way of taxing one of the big tax avoiders. I guess the stock value should take a hit, but probably good for the US taxpayers.
    Last I checked Apple was the highest tax payer in the country. I'm sure that's more than your entire family combined. "Greedy" Apple.
    I assumed he was referring to the Irish situation. But yes, he should have been aware of the American context regarding tax contributions where Apple is indeed the largest single contributor within the US tax base.
  • Reply 34 of 63
    seankill said:
    It won’t affect other competitors in the US because they build less stuff in China. Not sure that’s a valid reason in my book. 

    Apple should diversify more just in case. 
    Yes, Apple should diversify more, just in case. Apple seems to keep putting all of its eggs into one basket and that Chinese basket is falling apart.
  • Reply 35 of 63
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member

    seankill said:
    It won’t affect other competitors in the US because they build less stuff in China. Not sure that’s a valid reason in my book. 

    Apple should diversify more just in case. 
    Is that why those 600 CEO's told Trump to "back off fool!"?

    Of course not.  They were far more interested in ensuring their businesses with Chinese manufacturing ties continue to line their pockets.
  • Reply 36 of 63
    djsherlydjsherly Posts: 1,031member
    LordeHawk said:
    As an unintended consequence, Trump found a way of taxing one of the big tax avoiders. I guess the stock value should take a hit, but probably good for the US taxpayers.
    It is the legal responsibility of an American Corporation to increase profitability.  Apple has broken no US law by avoiding taxes when permitted.

    Thanks for your first post Apple bash.  Troll..!
    Why do people keep saying this? There is no such legal obligation on an American, or any other company to do increase profitability. They are certainly obliged to act in the shareholder interest and often this means profit, but to say the have an obligation to increase profitability is simply not true. If it were the case, every time a company posted a loss they would be open to shareholder revolt and possible legal action.
    GeorgeBMac
  • Reply 37 of 63
    LordeHawkLordeHawk Posts: 168member
    I want a reddish copper option!  Not rose gold!
  • Reply 39 of 63
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    JWSC said:

    seankill said:
    It won’t affect other competitors in the US because they build less stuff in China. Not sure that’s a valid reason in my book. 

    Apple should diversify more just in case. 
    Is that why those 600 CEO's told Trump to "back off fool!"?

    Of course not.  They were far more interested in ensuring their businesses with Chinese manufacturing ties continue to line their pockets.
    Line their pockets -- yeh -- and ours too.   They went there because they got the highest quality product at the lowest possible cost.   And the ultimate winners are US!   (Well, we were until Trump got involved!)

    The silly thing is:  All those deplorables think that all those Chinese jobs are coming back here paying $30/hr + benefits.   Even assuming that they do come back here, few of those deplorables would be willing to do what Chinese workers do everyday.
    muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 40 of 63
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    avon b7 said:
    Yeh, the Trump believers seem to think China is helpless and can only absorb the punches.
    They are far from helpless, they are taking this seriously, and they are not messing around.

    Meanwhile, Trump's list of supporters is growing thinner each day.   It's likely why suddenly we are negotiating with them again.

    But regardless of what happens:  Trump will claim victory and his followers will believe him.  
    muthuk_vanalingam
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