Mac Pro won't get China tariff waiver, says President Trump

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited July 2019
Despite a recent petition, Apple won't get any tariff exemptions for Mac Pro parts made in China, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday.

2019 Mac Pro


"Apple will not be given Tariff wavers [sic], or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China," Trump stated on Twitter. "Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!"

Tweet by President Donald Trump in regards to Apple's Mac Pro tariff waiver
Tweet by President Donald Trump in regards to Apple's Mac Pro tariff waiver


Earlier this month, Apple reportedly asked for relief from duties as high as 25%. That request is still believed to be in a public comment period ahead of review, but Trump's opposition could signal approval is unlikely.

In contrast with the 2013 Mac Pro, which was assembled in Austin, Texas, the 2019 model is being manufactured primarily in China. If proposed tariff hikes go through -- escalating the U.S.-China trade war -- Apple will either have to accept lower profit margins or pass the costs along to shoppers. That's a particular problem with the new Pro, which will start at $5,999 when it ships this fall and easily crack the tens of thousands for high-end configurations.

The base model will be equipped with an eight-core Intel Xeon processor, 32 gigabytes of RAM, and a Radeon Pro 580X video card. At the opposite end buyers will be able to get a 28-core, 2.5-gigahertz Xeon chip, 1.5 terabytes of RAM, and a Radeon Pro Vega II Duo.

Apple has been a vocal critic of both past and potential tariffs, suggesting their application could "tilt the playing field" in favor of competing vendors. Some Apple accessories are already subject to extra import costs.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 77
    ElCapitanelcapitan Posts: 372member
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    williamlondonairnerdk2kw
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  • Reply 2 of 77
    lordjohnwhorfinlordjohnwhorfin Posts: 886member
    ITMFA.
    williamlondonminicoffeejony0
     2Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 3 of 77
    SpamSandwichspamsandwich Posts: 33,407member
    It’s unacceptable that Apple should be caught so unprepared when this President made his intentions very clear about trade with China before and after the election. Apple should’ve been making plans for alternative suppliers and had those plans in place by now. It’s just plain tunnel vision.
    mwhitegeorgie01scott6666williamlondonmacseekerred oakJWSCchemengin1airnerdanantksundaram
     13Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 4 of 77
    ElCapitanelcapitan Posts: 372member
    It’s unacceptable that Apple should be caught so unprepared when this President made his intentions very clear about trade with China before and after the election. Apple should’ve been making plans for alternative suppliers and had those plans in place by now. It’s just plain tunnel vision.
    They probably (also) bet on a different outcome of the "disaster" that unfolded a couple days back...
    edited July 2019
    MacQc
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  • Reply 5 of 77
    Mike Wuerthelemike wuerthele Posts: 7,009administrator
    ElCapitan said:
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    It does use standard memory and can use standard graphics cards. Additionally, the machine and macOS support PCI-E NVME cards (if not the drives directly in a slot), and has two SATA 3.0 ports internal.

    I'm not sure how much more standard part support you want.

    You and I both know that there is no US manufacturing on this scale to speak of, and there will be no redesign.
    edited July 2019
    1STnTENDERBITSSolilordjohnwhorfinGeorgeBMacMacQctrustnoone00pscooter63pbruttoking editor the graterandominternetperson
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  • Reply 6 of 77
    ElCapitanelcapitan Posts: 372member
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    ElCapitan said:
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    It does use standard memory and can use standard graphics cards. Additionally, the machine and macOS support PCI-E NVME cards (if not the drives directly in a slot), and has two SATA 3.0 ports internal.

    I'm not sure how much more standard part support you want.

    You and I both know that there is no US manufacturing on this scale to speak of, and there will be no redesign.
    There won't, so from now on it is Linux on completely different boxes for everything we used to use Apple kit for. 
    williamlondonairnerd
     0Likes 0Dislikes 2Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 77
    lordjohnwhorfinlordjohnwhorfin Posts: 886member
    ElCapitan said:
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    ElCapitan said:
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    It does use standard memory and can use standard graphics cards. Additionally, the machine and macOS support PCI-E NVME cards (if not the drives directly in a slot), and has two SATA 3.0 ports internal.

    I'm not sure how much more standard part support you want.

    You and I both know that there is no US manufacturing on this scale to speak of, and there will be no redesign.
    There won't, so from now on it is Linux on completely different boxes for everything we used to use Apple kit for. 
    If your completely different boxes are still made in China, I’m not quite sure your point makes the slightest bit of sense.
    SpamSandwich1STnTENDERBITSwilliamlondonpscooter63pbruttoking editor the grateJWSCStrangeDaysAppleExposedyoyo2222
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  • Reply 8 of 77
    SpamSandwichspamsandwich Posts: 33,407member
    ElCapitan said:
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    ElCapitan said:
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    It does use standard memory and can use standard graphics cards. Additionally, the machine and macOS support PCI-E NVME cards (if not the drives directly in a slot), and has two SATA 3.0 ports internal.

    I'm not sure how much more standard part support you want.

    You and I both know that there is no US manufacturing on this scale to speak of, and there will be no redesign.
    There won't, so from now on it is Linux on completely different boxes for everything we used to use Apple kit for. 
    Are you an American? If not, what are you worried about?
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 77
    ElCapitanelcapitan Posts: 372member
    SpamSandwich said:
    ElCapitan said:
    Mike Wuerthele said:
    ElCapitan said:
    There is another alternative: Redesign the damned thing with parts that both can be sourced in the US, and at the same time make the machine more flexible in terms of entry configs (that many have requested), and to use standard memory, disk and graphics cards more readily available. That would also broaden the market for it.
    It does use standard memory and can use standard graphics cards. Additionally, the machine and macOS support PCI-E NVME cards (if not the drives directly in a slot), and has two SATA 3.0 ports internal.

    I'm not sure how much more standard part support you want.

    You and I both know that there is no US manufacturing on this scale to speak of, and there will be no redesign.
    There won't, so from now on it is Linux on completely different boxes for everything we used to use Apple kit for. 
    Are you an American? If not, what are you worried about?
    It was a general comment to the state of many things at Apple that over time has made it unfit for business.
    It is most definitely not the company I used to be proud to work for!
    williamlondonpscooter63Carnage
     0Likes 0Dislikes 3Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 77
    kestralkestral Posts: 311member
    Apple should STFU and pay their damn tariffs.
    williamlondonyuck9chemengin1airnerdLoneStar88Sanctum1972hmurchisonbancroft
     7Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 11 of 77
    tomahawktomahawk Posts: 183member
    Easy solution.  Do the same thing retailers love to do with sales.  Put a red slash through it but then put the phrase "Tariff Price: " and make it 25% higher.  Make it crystal clear who is actually paying for the tariffs (US consumers).
    mikethemartiancmd-zpbruttodewme[Deleted User]yoyo2222baconstangwatto_cobraurahara
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  • Reply 12 of 77
    scott6666scott6666 Posts: 26member
    Or manufacture it in Taiwan or Singapore or even Korea.  There are options with infrastructure outside of China. 
    williamlondonGG1airnerddewmeanantksundaramAppleExposed
     5Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 13 of 77
    georgie01georgie01 Posts: 437member
    tomahawk said:
    Easy solution.  Do the same thing retailers love to do with sales.  Put a red slash through it but then put the phrase "Tariff Price: " and make it 25% higher.  Make it crystal clear who is actually paying for the tariffs (US consumers).
    Our culture lives on a dreamboat thinking we can enact great change with minimal inconvenience to our own lives. We’re in a lot of the messes we’re in now because we want to be comfortable, because we don’t want to lose anything ‘important’ to us.

    If we need to pay a ‘25%’ tax on products to help put China in its place then we should be willing.
    williamlondonairnerdanantksundaramLoneStar88baconstang
     4Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 14 of 77
    georgie01georgie01 Posts: 437member
    I thought years ago Apple said the Mac Pro would be made in the US...
    williamlondonpscooter63chemengin1airnerdLoneStar88
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  • Reply 15 of 77
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    I want to know where are those Windows PCs and servers made? Are they made in USA? 
    williamlondonpscooter63JWSCLoneStar88StrangeDays[Deleted User]stevenozwatto_cobraurahara
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  • Reply 16 of 77
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,451member
    SpamSandwich said:
    It’s unacceptable that Apple should be caught so unprepared when this President made his intentions very clear about trade with China before and after the election. Apple should’ve been making plans for alternative suppliers and had those plans in place by now. It’s just plain tunnel vision.
    How could anyone prepare or predict the actions of someone who changes his "a brain" on a whim. 
    StrangeDayslordjohnwhorfinyoyo2222baconstangmuthuk_vanalingamurahara
     6Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 17 of 77
    SpamSandwichspamsandwich Posts: 33,407member
    georgie01 said:
    tomahawk said:
    Easy solution.  Do the same thing retailers love to do with sales.  Put a red slash through it but then put the phrase "Tariff Price: " and make it 25% higher.  Make it crystal clear who is actually paying for the tariffs (US consumers).
    Our culture lives on a dreamboat thinking we can enact great change with minimal inconvenience to our own lives. We’re in a lot of the messes we’re in now because we want to be comfortable, because we don’t want to lose anything ‘important’ to us.

    If we need to pay a ‘25%’ tax on products to help put China in its place then we should be willing.
    The tariff percentages are completely arbitrary and meant to pressure China into blinking. Hasn’t really worked so far, but the President plays hard and it worked with Canada and Mexico. We’ll see how much economic damage China is willing to accept.
    airnerdanantksundaram[Deleted User]watto_cobra
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  • Reply 18 of 77
    mikethemartianmikethemartian Posts: 1,598member
    kestral said:
    Apple should STFU and pay their damn tariffs.
    What you’re really saying is that American purchasers  should pay more.
    williamlondonviclauyyclordjohnwhorfin[Deleted User]macxpressbaconstangwatto_cobraurahara
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  • Reply 19 of 77
    Mike Wuerthelemike wuerthele Posts: 7,009administrator
    georgie01 said:
    I thought years ago Apple said the Mac Pro would be made in the US...
    The 2013 Mac Pro was assembled in Texas with parts shipped from China.
    pbruttodavgreg[Deleted User]watto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 20 of 77
    Mike Wuerthelemike wuerthele Posts: 7,009administrator

    tzeshan said:
    I want to know where are those Windows PCs and servers made? Are they made in USA? 
    Some are assembled in the US. Nearly every part for every manufacturer comes from China.
    pbruttoAppleExposedyoyo2222
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
This discussion has been closed.