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In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he might implement a 10 percent tariff on iPhones and laptops imported from China.

Trump is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week, and he said he is prepared to implement additional tariffs on products that are not currently subjected to tariffs should negotiations not go well.

appleproductlineup.jpg

He said the tariffs could also be placed on iPhones and laptops imported from China. The administration has been worried about a consumer reaction should such items be subject to levies.

"Maybe. Maybe. Depends on what the rate is," the president said, referring to mobile phones and laptops. "I mean, I can make it 10%, and people could stand that very easily."
Starting in January, the U.S. is set to increase tariffs on $200 billion in imports from China to 25 percent from 10 percent, which Xi Jinping is hoping to delay with the upcoming meeting. According to Trump, it's "unlikely" he will hold off on implementing the upcoming increase.

Apple devices are currently exempt from tariffs, though there were worries that the Apple Watch and AirPods would be included in the most recently released tariff list. Trump ended up exempting a product category that includes the Apple Watch, AirPods, and other smart watches and fitness products.

Apple has previously sent letters to the Trump administration urging it not to apply tariffs that would affect Apple products, instead urging the government find "other, more effective" solutions. Apple said implementing the tariffs would lead to lower U.S. growth and competitiveness, along with higher prices for U.S. consumers.

Back in July, Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the tariffs, saying that Apple was "optimistic" the issue would be sorted out, with the company ultimately hoping "calm heads prevail."

Apple's stock has dropped in after hours trading following Trump's remarks.

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: Trump Suggests Tariffs Could Be Placed on iPhones and Laptops Imported From China
 

mozumder

macrumors 65816
Mar 9, 2009
1,357
4,632
Trump's steel tariffs is why GM just laid off everyone.

Congratulations Trump voters, you played yourself.

The US economy is a globalist one that seeks open borders and free trade. The quicker you understand that, the better off you will be in this country.

Apple is doing exactly that by designing products by brilliant engineers in Silicon Valley, while having them built by cheaper, lower educated people in China.

If a person in China can build something for cheaper than in America, LET THEM - that is economic efficiency. An efficient economy will always win over an corrupt, inefficient one. Americans should only do jobs that only Americans can do, like high-end services jobs. Our economy is based on massive higher-education - the best in the world. No other country has a university system like ours, and we should take advantage of that.

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

New York, Silicon Valley and Hollywood are good examples of the kind of economy the US should be going forward.

A good example of complete economic failure is Russia - their economy is entirely based on selling things they find on the ground. When was the last time anyone bought something designed/made in Russia?
 
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macduke

macrumors G5
Jun 27, 2007
13,467
20,530
That sound you hear? That's the sound of shareholders running for the hills. Yikes!

I've been wondering if this is the real reason why Apple has been raising prices like crazy lately. They knew this was a possibility.

-- EDIT

I just re-read this article a day later. Does Trump honestly even know what a tariff is? Serious question. Trump's quote for context:

"I mean, I can make it 10%, and people could stand that very easily."

The point of a tariff is to put pressure on China to get a better trade deal, or to move manufacturing of these devices back to the U.S. A tariff would presumably make it less likely for people to buy phones and laptops that are made in China because the company importing them would have to pay the tariff and therefore raise rates.

However, if Trump thinks that "people could stand a 10% tariff very easily", then what's the point of said tariff if it won't accomplish either of the goals of a tariff? His statement says that people are going to keep buying phones and laptops regardless because they can "stand it", so essentially what Trump is doing is making it more expensive for American citizens and businesses to buy these crucial items that they need for personal and work reasons for no reason whatsoever.

Sure, I suppose the government will make some revenue from it, but that is not usually the goal of a tariff as a tariff usually drives down demand over time. By putting a 10% tariff on these goods, he is basically just taxing the American people for the most crucial item they use in their everyday life. It's fine if that's what they want to do, but they should just call it what it is and stop trying to be sneaky about it. It's almost like taxing water or food—just because it's more expensive doesn't mean people will stop buying it. They'll just stop buying other things and slow down the economy.
 
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ramallite

macrumors regular
Jan 5, 2004
176
371
Greensboro
Trump's steel tariffs is why GM just laid off everyone.

Congratulations Trump voters, you played yourself.

Exactly right. This guy knows nothing about (and is unwilling to be educated about) international trade and the economy. He'll just utter whatever mindless drivel enters his head during an interview and expect to be taken seriously, while real economists can only shake their heads or laugh out loud. In the meantime, it is not surprising that his voters will continue to buy into this rubbish, because I guess it is quite difficult to publicly embarrass yourself to admit that you've been conned. Bigly.
 

Solomani

macrumors 601
Sep 25, 2012
4,785
10,478
Slapfish, North Carolina
Tim Cook needs to put his money where his mouth is and aggressively donate to Democrats in the next election.

If it's Tim Cook's own personal money, he is free to do with his money however he wants.

But if it's Apple's cash hoard, it's not Tim's Money. It belongs to the company and its investors and shareholders. Like me. I prefer that money stays apolitical.
 
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c0ppo

macrumors 68000
Feb 11, 2013
1,890
3,268
You really have to be naive to think iPhone prices will increase by 10%. If this tariff happens, Tim Cook will increase prices by at least 20%. Even more for the rest of the world, even though these tariffs don't affect rest of the world. By why would TC waste a chance for more money grab if he sees one?
 

ericgtr12

macrumors 68000
Mar 19, 2015
1,774
12,175
It's amazing to hear Republicans who used to blame Obama for not creating jobs fast enough now speaking so highly of laying American workers off, farmers losing their crops and the steel industry taking such a big hit... just so we can to stick it to China. The American worker Conservatives once valued has become a pawn in Trump's game and they're all going along.
 

Art Mark

macrumors 6502
Jan 6, 2010
498
1,248
Oregon
Wouldn't just about every consumer product see an increase? Dell, HP...Amazon echo. They aren't being put together here. I think Amazon would be hit the hardest as they sell at a loss already. Or are all other companies exempt from tariffs?
 

Glideslope

macrumors G3
Dec 7, 2007
8,321
5,783
The Adirondacks.
And he blamed it on the Chevy Cruze not selling well. Lol.

You know, I was very surprised he did not blame Mary Barra. Given his abusive language toward women. If the Big Red Doughboy puts tariffs on Apple's devices I'll bet Tim stops his dinner meetings with Donnie. Tariffs are bad business. He could care less about the 14,000 people without a job. Just keep harping on low gas prices so Americans keep buying big SUV's. Oil drops below $55 a barrel and the US Frackers close up shop(not that I don't like that.) Americans never remember history. I'm so glad I have no grandchildren. This country is becoming unrecoverable. :apple:
 

Art Mark

macrumors 6502
Jan 6, 2010
498
1,248
Oregon
It's amazing to hear Republicans who used to blame Obama for not creating jobs fast enough now speaking so highly of laying American workers off, farmers losing their crops and the steel industry taking such a big hit... just so we can to stick it to China. The American worker Conservatives once valued has become a pawn in Trump's game and they're all going along.

And it's not clear exactly how bad this sticks it to China as other countries have already stepped up with agricultural sales. We have soybeans in storage starting to go bad. But yeah, people are (I was going to say dumb) but that wouldn't be nice. Some people are intellectually challenged. The world is a little too complicated. That's why they like coal.
 

glitch44

macrumors 65816
Feb 28, 2006
1,121
157
I prefer that money stays apolitical.

Your avatar is Trump and your location is set in Canada but you're weighing in on US politics for a US company. So much cognitive dissonance.

In any case, the Citizens United SCOTUS ruling means corporations can financially participate in political campaigns, so why wouldn't Apple donate to one more aligned with their political values and goals, especially when tariffs hurt their bottom line?
 
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