Apple’s Tim Cook is breathing a sigh of relief after the Trump administration temporarily exempted the tech giant from tariffs on Chinese imports.
The exemption covers key products like smartphones and laptops, which is a big win for Apple. The company’s iPhones and Macs are made in China, so the tariffs would have made them more expensive for US consumers.
A Behind-the-Scenes Effort
Cook played a crucial role in lobbying the Trump administration to exempt Apple from the tariffs. He met with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and other top officials at the White House to discuss the potential impact of the tariffs on Apple’s products.
Cook’s efforts paid off, but it wasn’t just his meetings that made the difference. He took a careful approach, avoiding public criticism of Trump or his policies. This approach seemed to work, as people close to Trump have praised Cook’s leadership.
A Careful Approach
Wilbur Ross, the former Commerce Secretary, said it wasn’t surprising that the Trump administration listened to Cook’s concerns. Ross noted that Cook is well-respected and that his warnings about the tariffs were taken seriously because they were based on reality. Apple’s reliance on China, combined with its importance to the US economy, made Cook’s case compelling.
Some context: Cook was one of the tech executives who donated over $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. People close to Trump have praised Cook’s leadership. Even Trump himself seemed to agree with Marc Andreessen, a well-known investor, when he praised Cook’s leadership.
A Temporary Reprieve
The exemption is just temporary. Howard Lutnick, a Trump ally, said that the administration plans to introduce a more comprehensive plan in the coming months.
The source for this story is Washington Post.