iPhone between fronts: how Trump's trade war hits Apple

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

By Hannes Vogel

After Harley-Davidson, Tesla and the farmers, the most valuable US Becoming a victim of Trump's customs policy: Apple is "designed in California, made in China". No other group suffers more devastating damage.

When the future US president met the bosses of the US technology industry soon after his election in December 2016, he made a promise to Silicon Valley leaders: "I'm here to help you succeed," he said. Trump said. "We will be here for you Call me, call my people, we will make a fair trade agreement and facilitate trade."

Apple chief Tim Cook, who was then alongside Trump and technology investor Peter Thiel sitting at the rectangular marble table on the 25th floor of Trump Tower, seemed skeptical at the meeting . Like most technology bosses, he had backed Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, by aversion has become an open enmity. Cook not only opposed Trump 's entry stop for Muslims, as did many technical officials. He must now watch as the commercial policy of the president of his company threatens to ruin the record.

Tonight, Apple presents its latest quarterly figures. The trade war, which Trump broke with Beijing from the fence, should leave its mark. After their arrival at Harley-Davidson, the Whirlpool washing machine manufacturer, Tesla and farmers, the collateral damage will now be visible for the first time to the forefront of the US economy. There is hardly any other American company that benefits as much from the US-Chinese trade as Apple. And who has so much to lose through Trump's customs war.

"Made in China" becomes the inevitability of Apple

Because Trump has now made his threats true and imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese imports of $ 34 billion, 16 billion will follow soon. China has traced with retaliatory tariffs on American products at the same pace. The potential for damage is huge. Morgan Stanley badysts see the economic exchange between Washington and Beijing as one of the "biggest risks" for Apple 's stock price up to the end of the year. autumn, when the company will introduce the next iPhone

. make cheap iPhones in China and import a lot of them into the United States. It also depends on the sale abroad and in the Middle Kingdom. With a fifth of sales, China was the second largest market after the United States in the last quarter, almost on par with Europe. "Designed by Apple California, Made in China" – the business model that prints the technology giant proudly on the back of every iPhone could be the company in Trump's trade war to condemn.

With the rates, Apple Apple can hardly be dangerous because the company produces its iPhones locally and does not matter. But there are many other ways for the government to impede sales in more than three dozen Apple and US Apple stores. China's bureaucracy could block Apple's national security referents. Or cripple production in iPhone factories with stricter editions.

Trump night to Apple's business

Apple threatens the Trump government of such danger. Because in the next wave of attacks, she soon wants to give up the tariff on Chinese imports for an amount of 200 billion US dollars. The list was released two weeks ago and US companies can voice their concerns at public hearings by the end of August. After that, they should quickly come into effect.