Report: How Tim Cook managed to get US customs exemptions for the iPhone
The Trump administration wanted 145% punitive tariffs on iPhones & Co. That this did not happen is said to have been directly related to Apple boss Cook.
Apple CEO Tim Cook (left) with US President Donald Trump during his first term in office.
(Image: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
Apple boss Tim Cook has negotiated directly with the US authorities in order to obtain exemptions from tough tariffs for its own products such as the iPhone. The Washington Post writes this in an exclusive report. According to the report, Cook had a telephone conversation with the responsible Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. In it, the Apple boss explained the potential impact of the up to 145 percent import duties on products from China. Analysts have reported prices of 2,000 to 3,000 US dollars, which would have directly affected American customers. Following the decision to suspend the tariffs for an initial 90 days, US President Donald Trump told the press that he was "flexible" and that he was talking to Cook and other industry leaders.
Cook does not publicly criticize
According to the Washington Post, Cook has explicitly decided not to publicly criticize Trump's tariffs –, unlike other CEOs. Cook has "an excellent relationship" with Trump, according to former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who held Lutnick's post during the first Trump administration.
"In general, he has a lot of respect because he's not a public whiner and he's not a crybaby, he speaks with the voice of reality. It's no surprise to me that his proposals are well received." Cooks is acting "very cautiously" in his role because Apple is heavily dependent on China, but is also "extremely important for the US", said Ross.
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Exceptions currently still temporary
Apple's problem: as mentioned, the exemptions from the punitive tariffs are currently temporary. Trump had already announced that there would be certain "tariff pots" for electronics companies. The government wants to look at the semiconductor and electronics supply chain in particular and still wants as much production as possible to take place in the USA – but this will take (many) years, if it is possible at all.
Another issue is how China will react. iPhone sales there are falling again – although the majority of devices are still produced there. Meanwhile, Apple shares continue to ride a rollercoaster. On Monday, it fell again almost 2 percent, the market capitalization is below 3 trillion US dollars.
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