Apple Says Trump's Tariffs Will Reduce Its Economic Contributions and Global Competitiveness

[Bug-Creator]

Let them move to Vietnam. The point was to cause a balance between China and the US,

One year later you will complain about the Vietnam trade imbalance....

Or just bring everything "home".

Everything Apple -> Made In USA
Every BMW,VW and Mercedes -> Made In Germany
Every Honda, Toyota etc -> Made in Japan

 

[citysnaps]

Ohh okay, so tim is afraid that now he can’t hand out multi million dollar bonuses to him and his fellow corporate fat cats ?

These tariffs are a great thing. These god damn corporate executives 10’s of millions of dollars worth of bonuses every year when that money can be re-invested into lean manufacturing.

Literally, it costs apple a couple hundred dollars to assemble an iPhone. Then they turn around and sell the damn thing for $1000+. Get the entire F out of here with that nonsense.

These tariffs have corporate America scared as they should be !

You clearly don’t understand how tariffs work.

 

[2010mini]

I trust Trump over Cook. Not even close.

As a life long New Yorker I will say without a doubt you have been conned royally.

 

[nexusrule]

What apple fail to realize is that trump’s tarifs are GOOD for apple, not bad!

Apple has another option... They could decide to assemble or manufacture here in the U.S.A. Yes, I realize that their labor expense would go up, after all, we do not allow people to work for a few dollars a day, in horrible conditions, but they would have less in tariffs. Made in the U.S.A. used to mean something. I remember when I was proud that the Mac Pro was being assembled in Texas.

Globalists aren’t interested in a distinctly prosperous USA. it’s counter to their vision.

Inb4 “no It’s not!” “What do you mean?”

I trust Trump over Cook. Not even close.

Ohh okay, so tim is afraid that now he can’t hand out multi million dollar bonuses to him and his fellow corporate fat cats ?

These tariffs are a great thing. These god damn corporate executives 10’s of millions of dollars worth of bonuses every year when that money can be re-invested into lean manufacturing.

Literally, it costs apple a couple hundred dollars to assemble an iPhone. Then they turn around and sell the damn thing for $1000+. Get the entire F out of here with that nonsense.

These tariffs have corporate America scared as they should be !

Maybe you conservative Americans could even go back to graze livestock, mining gold perhaps? Finding volunteers for picking cotton? We are in 2019, and you believe in capitalism I think right? Well the way capitalism work, if they didn’t tell you, is that if you want to keep a nation economy going, you have to constantly evolve that nation economy towards the production of more and more complex and sophisticated activities, while the more simple and manual are moved to less developed economies. Capitalism only works with infinite growth. I guess it made more sense when the conservative capitalist was someone that when looking at a nation that moved by horse, study engineering to invent cars. Now that conservatives are people that don’t believe in science I guess they don’t have the attitude to study anymore? Can’t see any there reason why in the more powerful nation of the world people want still to be cowboy and miners in 2019, if not an intellectual lazyness. After all you have an education system right? if I was in you I would brace for the post trump economical crisis, because he already did everything Bush did that caused the last one, without even a little war to balance the losses with some new revenue...

 

[brinary001]

What apple fail to realize is that trump’s tarifs are GOOD for apple, not bad!

Jesus I would love to have some of what you're smoking that must be some good stuff

 

[Sedulous]

There is more to trade then WTO rules or downright breaking them....

- the $ is the global reserve currency which is off course one the major reasons for your trade deficit, but also means that the US costumer can consume more than justified by his productivity (on average)

- research done elsewhere has the eerie tendency to get patented in the US

- whenever there are sanctions they are either done against countries the US does little trade with or in a way that they exclude areas that are important for the US

Plenty of other small things that can be bundled under "might makes right".

The issue with China is that it is for the 1st time an "enemy" that can punch in the same weight class and that Trump with his erratic actions made sure that other global players are rather unlikely to side with the US.

There is also the fact that US just isn't any good at manufacturing hence "Made in USA" not seen as anything positive everywhere else.

Cars are the prime example, Japan and Germany did start selling so many cars in the 70s for underpaying their workers or subsidies, no they did so cos US cars were gas-guzzling crap (and to some extent still are).

Much of this is purely opinion or conjecture. I get it, of course the US has often pursued its own objectives at the expense of others and it feels good to stick it to the USA. But let us be forthright and clear here, China agreed to WTO rules. Yet China has consistently verifiably not adhered to fairly major rules while benefitting immensely from WTO membership. These tariffs are how the US intends to force China to live by the WTO laws it agreed to... Europe should get on board because while it will hurt, the longer China continues as it has, the more difficult or impossible it will be to resolve. I know a few European countries have already fallen into China’s belt and road debt trap.

 

[thadoggfather]

Maybe you conservative Americans could even go back to graze livestock, mining gold perhaps? Finding volunteers for picking cotton? We are in 2019, and you believe in capitalism I think right? Well the way capitalism work, if they didn’t tell you, is that if you want to keep a nation economy going, you have to constantly evolve that nation economy towards the production of more and more complex and sophisticated activities, while the more simple and manual are moved to less developed economies. Capitalism only works with infinite growth. I guess it made more sense when the conservative capitalist was someone that when looking at a nation that moved by horse, study engineering to invent cars. Now that conservatives are people that don’t believe in science I guess they don’t have the attitude to study anymore? Can’t see any there reason why in the more powerful nation of the world people want still to be cowboy and miners in 2019, if not an intellectual lazyness. After all you have an education system right? if I was in you I would brace for the post trump economical crisis, because he already did everything Bush did that caused the last one, without even a little war to balance the losses with some new revenue...

You sound like a total bigot therefore I opt out of engaging beyond this statement. No good can come from it.

 

[Sedulous]

One year later you will complain about the Vietnam trade imbalance....

Or just bring everything "home".

Everything Apple -> Made In USA
Every BMW,VW and Mercedes -> Made In Germany
Every Honda, Toyota etc -> Made in Japan

I agree, the mindless manufacturing “nationalism” is not helpful and leads nowhere. However, it does make sense to do business where you get a fair shake. From what I have heard on the ground is that the feeling in Vietnam is boundless optimism and genuinely open to foreign business... basically where China was 30-40 years ago.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Yes. I feel that we need to evolve away from tribalism and lumping people into groups that only separate us and creates hostility.

And that's the thing. Some here believe that because "we" (speaking for myself) don't like Donald Trump as a person and by extension as a President , would like the US to fail.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe the US is BETTER than choosing that FOOL as President.

I detest people that choose to ignore his glaring, unacceptable faults to further whatever little tribal niche they want to protect.

I want the US to WIN. To be the BEST country in the world. To be an EXAMPLE for all others in how freedom, democracy, self-determination, and opportunity is SUPPOSED to work, so that other countries may follow.

It's the same fight Abe and his soldiers, John F, Martin K., Malcom L., Robert K., a certain Beatle named John, and many others gave their lives for IN THE US, not some foreign land.

If we have to fight people, so be it.

Every American should be willing to protect and defend the Constitution, and what it STANDS FOR, against ALL enemies: Foreign AND Domestic (#ProudBoys).

All that said, even a broken clock (like our President) can be right twice a day.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Europe should get on board because while it will hurt, the longer China continues as it has, the more difficult or impossible it will be to resolve. I know a few European countries have already fallen into China’s belt and road debt trap.

Would be much easier if Trump hadn't also started tariff-wars with all potential partners...

 

[joueboy]

Apple makes thousands of dollars for every device they sold and deliberately dodging taxes and now whine about paying just 25% tariff? I like to complain about my income tax at 21% and pay additional 7.25% every freaking thing I buy from store and additional property tax and car registration taxes.

 

[KazKam]

We're not mere animals. Well, at least some of us aren't.

We have the ability to choose and overcome our basic nature. We can both hope and strive to do better. We have the ability to overcome these petty "me first" impulses, little by little.

I'm not naive. It won't happen overnight, it'll take a lot of work and even fighting and/or killing if necessary.

But the dream where we ALL win begins with us saying that we CAN. And then we need follow-through, determination and sheer will to make it work.

The greatest example of this in my mind is when thankfully in the 1860's there was a President that put his life where his mouth was regarding this very concept. Several followed, and all paid with their lives. But for a few years since, it seemed we were moving in the right direction.

Sadly, the US went the other way in 2016.

We can have the future Steve Roddenberry presented in Star Trek. We already have tricorders!

Seriously, I believe the recent communications revolution and leaps forward in technology will make this possible now more than ever before.

I appreciate your optimism, which is commendable, but also extremely idealistic.

Also, the US didn't go the "other way" in 2016... Nothing has changed in this regard since humans first picked their knuckles up off the ground... maybe before. We actually ARE "mere" animals, dressed in finery with superiority complexes... and I'm OK with that.

 

[Sedulous]

Would be much easier if Trump hadn't also started tariff-wars with all potential partners...

Agreed.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I appreciate your optimism, which is commendable, but also extremely idealistic.

Also, the US didn't go the "other way" in 2016... Nothing has changed in this regard since humans first picked their knuckles up off the ground... maybe before. We actually ARE "mere" animals, dressed in finery with superiority complexes... and I'm OK with that.

Thus all that makes you my (logical) enemy (maybe rival is a better word?).

A complex is not a complex if it's true. It's an observation. Man is superior to animals.. Period.

But apparently you can't see it.

However, I'm also OK with that.

 

[JetTester]

Tariffs are one of the few tools the US has to influence China to change their behavior. We certainly can’t use the threat of military force against them, so economics will have to do. It will likely be temporary.

 

[Tucom]

That photo of Tim is absolutely priceless, just like Apple's contributions to the world.

No sarcasm. Just a little jest, like 5%.

 

[KazKam]

Thus all that makes you my (logical) enemy (maybe rival is a better word?).

A complex is not a complex if it's true. It's an observation. Man is superior to animals.. Period.

But apparently you can't see it.

However, I'm also OK with that.

OK. So, back on topic...

You think China isn't looking out for #1? Of course they are. Do you think they give a crap about altruism and the people of the world joining hands and singing in harmony? Nope.

The fact is that the US has been getting butt-hurt by China in regards to trade and tariffs since the 1970's. This trade war is about fixing that "disparity" (something I presume you're all about). Why wouldn't I want the US to come out ahead at the end of this? Why don't YOU?

 

[mschmalenbach]

Tariffs are one of the few tools the US has to influence China to change their behavior. We certainly can’t use the threat of military force against them, so economics will have to do. It will likely be temporary.

It's a 2-way street - just ask the soya bean farmers in the Mid West... 57% of US-grown soya beans went to China. Until a few months ago, when the Chinese turned off their buying totally, in under 2 weeks.

Right now those farmers are being kept afloat by bailouts - something many conservatives refer to as socialism when bailouts are going to groups they don't relate to or agree with.

It's unlikely those Chinese customers will ever come back in anything like the numbers that existed before Trump weighed in with his latest bright idea.

Has China exploited its trading status with the US? Almost certainly. The US let it. Trump is trying to do something about it. He's just going about it the wrong way, IMHO. Meanwhile, large businesses are slowly buying up farms in the Mid West at very very good prices, further screwing the hapless farmers out there... I wonder if that wasn't the REAL intention with the folks in the shadows pulling Trump's strings...

 

[Defthand]

I think the relevant question for us is: Will we pay 25% more to equip ourselves and our families with Apple products, or will we consider cheaper alternatives?

 

[mschmalenbach]

OK. So, back on topic...

You think China isn't looking out for #1? Of course they are. Do you think they give a crap about altruism and the people of the world joining hands and singing in harmony? Nope.

The fact is that the US has been getting butt-hurt by China in regards to trade and tariffs since the 1970's. This trade war is about fixing that "disparity" (something I presume you're all about). Why wouldn't I want the US to come out ahead at the end of this? Why don't YOU?

I think the debate is more about HOW that's done.

So far the tariffs thing has mostly hurt the people Trump claims to be looking out for...

 

[thadoggfather]

The US let it.

its certainly worthwhile exploring how exactly we got here, yet many are completely uninterested even outright on the offense from even the mere thought of exploring the subject. it does seem to predate january 20, 2017 though doesn't it? it also seems this president isn't really a big evangelist of trade deficits and giving China the upper hand without even so much as a fight, so I would suspect all the more that its not because of recent events and administration.

 

[BigDO]

The comments in this thread certainly deliver mirth.

 

[mschmalenbach]

I think the relevant question for us is: Will we pay 25% more to equip ourselves and our families with Apple products, or will we consider cheaper alternatives?

I doubt it - those cheaper alternatives have existed for years - and yet enough of us (me very much included) still pay the so-called Apple Tax - why? For me, Apple devices are just cheaper, easier and less stressful to have and use... so the initial price maybe higher but overall the total cost is lower... for others it's just a brand thing, or a "I can afford the more expensive thing" thing... "twas ever thus"!

 

[tremlock]

say hello to the iPhone 11 starting at the courageously low price of $4,299

 

[msama]

Before guns (or any modern tech like say, a car) were around though, it was waaay more difficult for one person to kill many. So in my mind it's not really an apples to apples comparison.

The interesting part for me is how that modern-communication-enabled observation could also be a deterrent, not just by the subject witnessing the unpleasantness of death but the ability to educate and eradicate the backward thinking that may have led to it.

Modern comm tech has given us the opportunity to become the smartest, most logical, AND more empathetic we've ever been.

That said, you cannot turn a donkey into a horse. Some people you just can't fix. Those are the ones you FIGHT.

Yeah, that's the gist of the book.... we're currently the smartest, most logical, empathetic, etc. we've ever been despite how bad it appears.