Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tariffs: 'We're Hoping Calm Heads Prevail'

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook this afternoon spoke about the tariffs the United States has imposed on goods imported from China, and how Apple might be impacted.

Cook said that while Apple believes the trade agreements the United States has with other major economies are in need of modernization, the company does not think that tariffs are the right approach. "We're sort of encouraging dialogue and so forth," said Cook.

Apple CEO Tim Cook with Donald Trump at the Executive Tech Summit at Trump Tower in December 2016​

In terms of the three tariffs that have already been put in place that impact steel, aluminum, and $50B worth of additional goods from China, none of Apple's products have been directly impacted.

A fourth tariff on $200 billion in Chinese goods is out for public comment, and Apple says it is evaluating the tariff and will be sharing its views on it with the administration before the end of the comment period. The original Apple Watch has been named in the latest proposal, alongside devices that include the Fitbit charge and some Sonos speakers. Apple has already discontinued its original Apple Watch and newer Apple Watch models are not impacted.

Cook said that examining tariffs is a "tedious process" because there are factors to consider that include not only revenue, but also purchases being made through other companies unrelated to revenue, such as data centers. Apple plans to share its results at a later date.

According to Cook, the risk associated with a macroeconomic issue like an economic slowdown or currency fluctuation is difficult to quantify, and that's not something Apple is trying to do. Cook said that Apple is "optimistic" that the tariff issue will get sorted out. "There's an inescapability of mutuality between the United States and China," said Cook. "Each country can only prosper if the other does... and the world needs the U.S. to and China to prosper."

Cook said that while he can't predict the future, he's "optimistic" that the countries will get through this. "We're hoping that calm heads prevail," said Cook.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tariffs: 'We're Hoping Calm Heads Prevail'

 

[Z400Racer37]

"We're hoping...... He's not as stupid and impulsive as he is....."

 

[lunarworks]

"We're hoping...... He's not as stupid and impulsive as he is....."

There's a chance the bull will calmly walk out of the china shop.

Oh ****, there's someone wearing red.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Bow to your Chinese overlords Mr Cook.

Sick of our CEOs selling the US out to China via technology transfers and IP.

American companies will reap what they have swon

 

[thadoggfather]

HAha

“We’re hoping globalism and unfair unilateral trade practices prevail”

Word Timmy. Color me not surprised

With a ridiculously high margin on iPhones, Apple can take it on the chin

 

[AgentAnonymous]

As a CEO he is more concerned about short term profits than our national security, which is fine because he is a CEO.

However confronting China's unfair trade practices (one-sided protectionism) and intellectual property theft should be a bipartisan issue, despite the fact that the current administration deserves to be impeached.

China is profitting at our expense, being able to flood our markets with crap pushing local manufacturers out of business, while they refuse to buy most of our products in favor of protecting domestic industries, and while Americans can't even open an icecream stand in Beijing without forming a 51% Chinese 49% American joint venture and giving up all of our intellectual property.

 

[samcraig]

If he's waiting for Trump to have a "calm head" - he's going to be waiting... a very long long long time.

 

[B4U]

There's a chance the bull will calmly walk out of the china shop.

Oh ****, there's someone wearing red.

It is not the color red that cause the bull to go mad, but the motion of the cloth. It has been scientifically proven.
[doublepost=1533078067][/doublepost]

If he's waiting for Trump to have a "calm head" - he's going to be waiting... a very long long long time.

It is never going to happen, so it is not a long time since it is IMPOSSIBLE!

 

[Zachari]

"We're hoping...... He's not as stupid and impulsive as he is....."

It’s funny that you think Trump is stupid. When you look back at EVERYTHING he had done, it’s very easy to see the calculated and precise moves he makes. When he looks “stupid and impulsive”, you should be looking for the other moves he is making in the background. It’s very interesting. But muh, the media tells me to be mad at Drumpf so I’m going to be mad.

lol.

 

[PracticalMac]

"We're hoping that calm heads prevail," said Cook.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Never knew Tim was such a joker!

/sarcasm

 

[samcraig]

It’s funny that you think Trump is stupid. When you look back at EVERYTHING he had done, it’s very easy to see the calculated and precise moves he makes. When he looks “stupid and impulsive”, you should be looking for the other moves he is making in the background. It’s very interesting. But muh, the media tells me to be mad at Drumpf so I’m going to be mad.

lol.

Calculating. Like this:

 

[eatrains]

It’s funny that you think Trump is stupid. When you look back at EVERYTHING he had done, it’s very easy to see the calculated and precise moves he makes. When he looks “stupid and impulsive”, you should be looking for the other moves he is making in the background. It’s very interesting. But muh, the media tells me to be mad at Drumpf so I’m going to be mad.

lol.

Can't tell if satire...

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Can't tell if satire...

Tariff on American goods in China already exists. Trump threatens to match said tariff in order to try to get China to eventually remove tariff on goods. iPhone 8 64GB in the US costs $699. In China it costs $789US.

Timmay wants his immediate profits to remain equal or better than previous quarters so that shareholders don't vote him off the throne.

 

[Braderunner]

People that think the “leader” of the free world has some genius plan that no other person on the planet can figure out.....hahahahahaaaagagaaaa....

 

[Zachari]

People that think the “leader” of the free world has some genius plan that no other person on the planet can figure out.....hahahahahaaaagagaaaa....

He’s done more in 2 years than 44 did in 8.

 

[RickInHouston]

Timmy has NO bargaining position against The President.

None.

 

[RootBeerMan]

People that think the “leader” of the free world has some genius plan that no other person on the planet can figure out.....hahahahahaaaagagaaaa....

What's Angela Merkel got to do with this?

 

[69Mustang]

He’s done more in 2 years than 44 did in 8.

You are 100% right. Depends on your political bent whether or not you consider it a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[macduke]

"We're hoping that calm heads prevail," said Cook.

Has he met the current President of the United States of America? Because I’m pretty sure this article has a photo of him sitting in a room talking with the current President of the United States of America.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

So he's losing his trade war against China like every economist in every party said he would, and his plan to help bail out the farmers who supported him who these tariffs are hurting most, is a short term government handout, which they don't want, and which he plans to pay for by borrowing 12 billion dollars from... China.

Kneejerk reactionary economic policy by a guy who according to everyone who has worked with him for half a century is quick to point out doesn't know the first thing about economics or even trade. Big surprise, it's not 4th dimensional chess, it's one guy acting every bit as stupid and dangerous as he seems to be.

Better invest in composites, Mr. Cook.

 

[unobtainium]

It’s funny that you think Trump is stupid. When you look back at EVERYTHING he had done, it’s very easy to see the calculated and precise moves he makes. When he looks “stupid and impulsive”, you should be looking for the other moves he is making in the background. It’s very interesting. But muh, the media tells me to be mad at Drumpf so I’m going to be mad.

lol.

Name one brilliant maneuver Trump has made. He inherited a roaring economy from Obama and stoked the fire with tax cuts for corporations and the rich. That’s pretty much it so far, and it’s not very brilliant.

Oh he also “solved” the immigration issue by kidnapping thousands of very young children and traumatizing them for life, then got slapped on the wrist by the judiciary. He has repeatedly bellowed “no collusion” like the demented cow he is, only to change his tune to “collusion is not a crime” (even though it is in this case) as investigators close in. He’s a moron and he hasn’t made a single brilliant move.

 

[Fender2112]

He’s done more in 2 years than 44 did in 8.

But they were all bad.
[doublepost=1533124408][/doublepost]

Name one brilliant maneuver Trump has made. He inherited a roaring economy from Obama and stoked the fire with tax cuts for corporations and the rich. That’s pretty much it so far, and it’s not very brilliant.

Oh he also “solved” the immigration issue by kidnapping thousands of very young children and traumatizing them for life, then got slapped on the wrist by the judiciary. He has repeatedly bellowed “no collusion” like the demented cow he is, only to change his tune to “collusion is not a crime” (even though it is in this case) as investigators close in. He’s a moron and he hasn’t made a single brilliant move.

To be fair, he did get elected when no one was expecting it. I'd say that was a brilliant move, even though he had help... from the Russians.
[doublepost=1533124634][/doublepost]

Don't let the propaganda from the leftist media blind you for the good DT is doing for the USA.

You can't see what isn't there. Doesn't mean you are blind.

 

[iReality85]

So he's losing his trade war against China like every economist in every party said he would, and his plan to help bail out the farmers who supported him who these tariffs are hurting most, is a short term government handout, which they don't want, and which he plans to pay for by borrowing 12 billion dollars from... China.

Kneejerk reactionary economic policy by a guy who according to everyone who has worked with him for half a century is quick to point out doesn't know the first thing about economics or even trade. Big surprise, it's not 4th dimensional chess, it's one guy acting every bit as stupid and dangerous as he seems to be.

Better invest in composites, Mr. Cook.

Actually, Trump and his administration are not losing the trade war with China.

There is lots of economic unrest in China right now. Not only does the US government know this, but many of China's national news papers -- which are essentially state run mouthpieces for China's Communist Party -- are now beginning to criticize President Xi and his administration for their antagonistic and confrontational approach to US trade. It's only going to harm China, and it's going to harm them a lot more than it will harm us.

One of China's most important imports is soy beans, a large portion of which comes from the US. China stocked up on soy beans in the earlier months of this year in preparation for a trade war, but the Trump administration already saw and accounted for this. Again, they're one step ahead. Once China's reserve of soy beans runs out, it's going to really start hurting them, and it's an import they cannot readily acquire through other trade outlets. China has 4x as many mouths to feed as the US does. Trump and his team are simply bidding their time, and the Chinese will be forced to come to the table and make trade concessions that the US is looking for. Concessions that, ironically, Silicon Valley and companies like Apple stand the most to benefit from because of China's gross theft of IP.

 

[A MacBook lover]

But they were all bad.
[doublepost=1533124408][/doublepost]
To be fair, he did get elected when no one was expecting it. I'd say that was a brilliant move, even though he had help... from the Russians

I can’t believe people out there still believe this Russian narrative. Wasn’t it Hilary who cheated in the primaries to steal the democratic nomination from Bernie Sanders? - http://observer.com/2016/07/wikileaks-proves-primary-was-rigged-dnc-undermined-democracy/amp/

Wasn’t it Hilary’s campaign that (initiated the pied piper strategy to get trump elected in the first place? https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/fileid/1120/251

Let’s not forget. There are two versions of the Wikileaks emails. One is the original Wikileaks emails, and another with time stamps registering 30 minutes later from the original documents - these with Russian time stamps added on the bottom. It’s funny how intelligence reports refer to the copied version with Russian time stamps *even though* they aren’t the original documents. The Russian fiasco is all noise, no proof, no prosecution, just loud talking.

I’m not even a trump fan, I wanted Bernie to win. But it’s sad when people go along with lies just because they don’t like them. It’s fine to not like trump, but don’t use lies to reinforce your opinion.

 

[widgeteer]

I can’t believe people out there still believe this Russian narrative. Wasn’t it Hilary who cheated in the primaries to steal the democratic nomination from Bernie Sanders?

No. This in and of itself is not true. She won by millions of votes for a multitude of reasons. I know Bernie fans like to pretend he lost only cause it was "rigged", but the guy had his ass handed to him.