Trump promises Apple he won’t put tariff on iPhones

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China iPhone sales
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with Apple Store employees in China.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook has been hard at work trying to make peace before the brewing trade war with the U.S. and China blows up.

In a new profile by the New York Times, details have emerged of how Tim Cook has been talking to both Trump’s administration and leadership in China to ensure Apple’s stability in both countries.

Cook has had frequent visits with Trump’s top cabinet members. Apple has found the new administration to be more accessible than Obama’s administration. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and Cook have seen eye to eye on some issues. He’s also had good meetings with Wilbur Ross the commerce secretary.

According to the New York Times article, Trump promised Cook that he wouldn’t place tariffs on iPhone assembled in China. Apple has reportedly been worried about retaliation from China. The country could make Apple’s business harder by hampering its ability to sell phones in the country or export them in a timely fashion.

The Trump administration has hit Chinese smartphone maker ZTE hard with tariffs recently for violating sanction imposed on Iran and North Korea.

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