Trump: Apple Building in China is 'Unsustainable,' Could Exempt Some Companies From Tariffs

[chmania]

China’s population exceeds that of the US by a factor of four, and when considering the capacity for high-quality work, this disparity may be tenfold or greater. The Chinese president exemplifies a pragmatic politician, whereas Trump remains an amateur in this regard. When evaluating business acumen, the Chinese president might be regarded as a businessman with a national perspective, whereas Trump is merely a property developer. So, who'd win this trade war?

 

[cocky jeremy]

I'm no supply chain expert, but it seems to me that building and ramping up a factory to full production isn't an overnight thing. I'm not sure how companies are supposed to pivot so quickly from offshore manufacturing.

They've known for years to get away from China. Why do you think Apple has moved so much to India and other countries already as it is?

 

[cocky jeremy]

What an incompetent clown show.

Incompetent, how? Do you know how many countries have come to the US asking to work new agreements that will benefit us? He's told us exactly what he's going to do from day one. Ask for far more than he wants, then bullies people into settling somewhere in the middle, which is where he actually wanted to be from day one.

 

[DVD9]

I'm no supply chain expert, but it seems to me that building and ramping up a factory to full production isn't an overnight thing. I'm not sure how companies are supposed to pivot so quickly from offshore manufacturing.

Trump ran on this TEN years ago. CEO's have had ten years notice and they chose to reply with a middle finger.

If you don't listen, you have to feel.

 

[chmania]

They've known for years to get away from China. Why do you think Apple has moved so much to India and other countries already as it is?

It appears that individuals inhabit an entirely different realm of understanding. India, also an Asian nation, boasts a population exceeding 1.4 billion. Neither China nor India is likely to relinquish the progress they have already attained. Furthermore, nations such as Brazil, South Africa, and even Türkiye must be considered, alongside a substantial number of other BRICS countries. Why do people think that they are living in the centre of the world?

 

[DVD9]

I agree most don't need to upgrade every year (or even two or three), but we should be a capitalistic country in my opinion. Apple should do their best to make what people will buy and make as big a profit as they can. If people like what they sell and can afford it they buy. To artificially make Apple make less profit, sell fewer units and have each unit cost way more makes no sense. To do that just to maybe increase US jobs is socialism and not capitalism. If we want more production in the US then offer Apple and others real incentives like tax breaks, land grants, etc. if they build factories here. Don't force them to make less profit and make things more expensive for Americans. The US should make it so that Apple and others will profit MORE if they produce more in the US

You just articulated the race to the bottom.

 

[DVD9]

The Chinese trade surplus with the US, amounting to approximately 3% of China’s GDP, is not so substantial that its loss would devastate their economy. China could redirect many of these goods to other nations, which may welcome the additional supply to a certain extent, or enhance domestic sales to absorb the surplus. Economic hardship perceived as a result of US hostility might also unify the Chinese populace, strengthening national resolve.

On 9 April 2025, Trump imposed a new 104% tariff on Chinese goods, giving China a mere day to concede before the measure took effect. China, however, retaliated by announcing an additional 50% tariff on US imports, bringing their total to 84%, effective from midnight on 10 April, and adding a number of US companies to its export control list and unreliable entity list. Trump appeared genuinely surprised that China declined to make concessions in exchange for relief, opting instead for significant retaliation. This reaction reflects China’s strategic learning from the trade war four to eight years prior, during which they developed resilience against such pressures.

He shouldn't be, China's strength is the reason we have to do what we are doing. If we were not sick we would not need medicine.

 

[DVD9]

If Trump succeeds in bringing back some manufacturing will American consumers be willing to pay higher prices for American made products?

You write this as if they are going to have a choice.

 

[chmania]

China's strength is the reason we have to do what we are doing.

Like an elephant in a in a china shop...

The US dollar would become valueless should nations cease to conduct transactions in that currency—the concept of it serving as the world’s reserve currency persists only until such a shift occurs.

 

[DVD9]

Yeah the most expensive computer by a wide margin is what is made there. I guess you’re all for $3000 iPhones then for what? To feed the maga addiction?

Nothing is "made" there. It's assembled with parts from over there. It's a propaganda stunt by Timmy that worked on you.

 

[laptech]

Just pull the same trick as Starbucks does with coffee beans. Set up a shell importer/exporter in Ireland to launder products. In Starbucks case, they do it to avoid US corporate taxes. They buy cheap beans on the world market through the Irish Starbucks subsidiary. Sell at huge markups to US Starbucks. Profits taken in Ireland aren't taxed at the higher US rates.

Apple could easily sell phones to a Vietnam subsidiary. Let the Vietnam subsidiary sell them to Apple Inc in the US. The 125% tariff gets replaced with a 10% tariff on goods imported from Vietnam and maybe another percent or two to pay for transit through Vietnam.

Honestly, if Cook doesn't have an analysis of all such options on his desk already, I would be shocked at the incompetence.

Companies hire accountants who are able to find inventive 'legal' ways to avoid paying certain levels of tax. I have no doubt companies will hire people to find inventive 'legal ways to avoid paying the high level of tariffs. Your suggestion will probably be one of them because if that is how Starbucks do it I am sure other business operators are aware of how Starbucks achieved it.

 

[jimbobb24]

Now we are just giving favors to people who do your bidding. I don’t like this at all.

 

[AHDuke99]

What's so crazy is I doubt Apple could find the labor needed in the US to build as many iPhones as they build in China, let alone sell a phone at an affordable price point given the labor costs. The fact that this administration thinks we're going to magically move these factories back to the US is insane. Americans don't want to screw screws into iPhones on an assembly line

 

[JohnC1959]

What's so crazy is I doubt Apple could find the labor needed in the US to build as many iPhones as they build in China, let alone sell a phone at an affordable price point given the labor costs. The fact that this administration thinks we're going to magically move these factories back to the US is insane. Americans don't want to screw screws into iPhones on an assembly line

I doubt he thinks or even cares if Apple and others actually move production to the US. I think he likes being seen upsetting the cart in the name of a cause his supporters like. It's optics. He's the song and dance man.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I guess all these Evangelicals and self-proclaimed, so-called American Christians that put a man like Trump and Elon Musk in power failed to read the book they claim is the highest of authorities:

Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 19:23-24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

1 Timothy 6:9-11: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Just sayin'.

 

[chmania]

There is indeed a substantial probability that China will not yield to Trump’s recent threats, particularly in the context of the escalating trade war between the two nations. Trump’s apparent surprise at China’s rejection of concessions and its decision to retaliate further underscores a miscalculation on his part.

Analysts have observed that China views this trade war as a test of wills, with Beijing determined to signal that it will not allow Washington to dictate terms, especially as it perceives the US as a declining power. A retired PLA colonel, Zhou Bo, remarked in March 2025 that by the end of Trump’s term, America’s global standing might diminish, enhancing China’s relative influence—a sentiment that reflects China’s long-term strategic calculus.

 

[chmania]

High price, high technology products can now be imported from China with low tariffs applied to them while low tech intermediate goods from China, which U.S. producers need for their products, will have super high tariffs on them.

If this stands it will lead to more low tech production of intermediate goods within the U.S. while the high tech production will stay and expand in China.

Lovely, isn't it?!