You didn’t answer my question. My dinner plates were made in Indonesia and sold to me by an American company. Is the Indonesian company that made the plates freeloading off of America? Is America justified in asking the company that made the plates to pay a million dollars before the American company I bought them from is allowed to sell their plates?
To your point above, I’m not arguing Indonesian isn’t allowed to do this. Of course they are. I’m arguing it’s extortion and corrupt. Which it is. There is a huge difference between charging a commission for services rendered and use of Apple’s property and “you’re not allowed to sell in this country without paying us off.”
Tarrifs are paid by the company importing the good, not the company who is selling the good. So if you think sales taxes paid by the consumer when they buy a product don’t count, tarrifs paid by the importer don’t either.
How is Apple not contributing to the economy? They are selling phones to Indonesian retailers and mobile phone companies who are the selling those phones at higher prices, making money for the retailers, and sales tax revenue for the government. The advertisements for the iPhone make money for Indonesian media and billboard companies, which I am sure is also taxed.
And that’s before you account for the services offered in Indonesia which
include:
Indonesia
- Apple One
- App Store
- Apple Music
- iTunes Store Music purchases
- Apple TV app
- Apple TV+
- MLS Season Pass
- Movie purchases
- Apple Fitness+
- Ringtone & Tone purchases
I find it highly unlikely Apple isn’t paying tax to Indonesia on purchases in the App Store, Apple One, Apple Music, etc. So again, not freeloading.
Again, what is Indonesia providing that Apple isn’t paying for? Apple having Indonesian companies selling the iPhone costs the Indonesian government nothing. In fact, they make money from taxes on the sales of iPhones, accessories, advertisements, etc. Not to mention all the tax revenue on the above.