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President Trump told reporters Sunday that Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, had made a "very compelling argument" that government tariffs on products assembled in China had had an unfair impact. on the California-based technology giant because its main rival, Samsung, had most of its manufacturing in South Korea and did not have to pay the tax.
The president also issued a stern warning to China, saying the trade war might not be over if the government resorted to "violence" to crush protesters in Hong Kong.
Trump announced last week that it would delay by three months the significant new tariffs imposed on China, and its latest comments hinted that further concessions could be envisaged. The new 10% tariffs were to come into effect Sept. 1 and would have affected Apple's signature iPhones.
"I had a very good meeting with Tim Cook," Trump told a New Jersey airport on his way back to the White House. "I have a lot of respect for Tim Cook, and Tim was talking to me about tariffs." And, among other things, he's argued well, it's that Samsung is their biggest competitor and that's it pays not the rates, because they are based in South Korea ".
Trump continued, "It's hard for Apple to pay the tariff if they're competing with a very good company that's not in. I said," What good competitor? "He said that he was a very good competitor (…) .I thought he had presented a very convincing argument, so I think about it."
Earlier in the day, Trump had issued a note of optimism about China, tweeting, "We speak very well with China!"
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At the airport however, the president took a tougher stance. He warned that a trade deal would not be possible if the Chinese government used force to crack down on protesters in Hong Kong, who were protesting against the Hong Kong government's proposed extradition bill, which would allow certain extraditions to Mainland China.
"I think it would be very difficult to deal with the violence, I mean, if it's another Tiananmen place," Trump said. "I think it's a very difficult thing to do if there is violence."
The president also refuted weekend news that the United States was willing to do business with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The United States had placed the company on an export blacklist in June, citing national security concerns and fearing it would work with Chinese spy networks.
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal announced that the White House was planning to announce Monday a 90-day extension of a license allowing Huawei to provide a service to its US customers. The temporary extension would aim to allow the company to fulfill orders placed before the entry into force of the blacklist.
"I do not want to do business at all because it's a threat to national security," Trump told reporters. "We'll see what happens, I'll make a decision tomorrow."
These remarks echoed Trump's comments at the White House last week.
A protester waving a sign saying "Get out slowly" to encourage other protesters to leave on Sunday near the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong. (AP Photo / Vincent Thian)
"We will not do business with Huawei," Trump said at the time. "And, I really made the decision It's a lot simpler not to do business with Huawei … … That's not to say that we will not agree on something if and when we conclude a commercial agreement. "
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However, the President's messages have not always been consistent about this. In June, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump suggested that "we continue to sell" to Huawei, which would encourage government officials to reject this suggestion.
Apple has always focused its political capital on preserving its profit margins. In June, the company wrote to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging the administration not to apply tariff measures against China.
"The proposed tariff schedule covers all major Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods and AppleTV, as well as parts and batteries used to repair products in the United States," Apple said.
"US tariffs on Apple products would result in a reduction in Apple's economic contribution to the United States," the company said. "US tariffs would also weigh on Apple's global competitiveness.The Chinese producers with whom we compete in the global markets do not have a significant presence in the US market and therefore would not be affected by US tariffs."
In a press release to the public Thursday, before Cook's dinner with Trump, Apple highlighted its growing investments in the US economy.
"Much of Apple's US-backed jobs lie in the burgeoning applications sector, which currently generates 1.9 million US jobs, an increase of 325,000 over the past two years." and half, "writes Apple.
The company said it "directly employs 90,000 people in the 50 US states, allowing it to create 20,000 new jobs in the US by 2023".
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For his part, Trump seemed receptive to openings even before his last face to face with Apple's CEO.
"Dinner tonight with Apple's Tim Cook. They will spend large sums of money in the United States. Great! Trump said Friday night in Bedminster, New Jersey, where they had dinner last August.
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