Trump rejects Apple’s request for Mac Pro tariff waiver
The US will not grant tariff relief to Apple on parts for its Mac Pro computers imported from China, President Donald Trump has said.
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“Apple will not be given Tariff waivers, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China. Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!” he tweeted.
Shares in Apple, which had made strong gains in early trading, dipped following the comments.
Apple will not be given Tariff waiver, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China. Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2019
Earlier this month the tech giant asked the US government to waive a 25 per cent tariff on a series of parts, including those for its Mac Pro desktop computer. Requests for tariff waivers are open to the public until 1 August.
It comes amid reports that Apple is looking to shift some of its production facilities to China, in a move that could anger the Trump administration.
Last month the Wall Street Journal reported that the tech firm will move manufacturing of its new Mac Pro model from Texas to China.
Separately, however, Apple has asked its major suppliers to assess the cost implications of moving a large part of its production capacity from China to southeast Asia, according to Japanese media reports.
China is a key market for Apple as well as a major production center for its devices. Nearly 18 per cent of its total first-quarter revenue was earned in greater China.
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Apple unveiled its new $6,000 (£4,800) Mac Pro at its annual developer conference last month. The new computer was ridiculed by many Twitter users, who compared its design to a cheese grater.
Main image credit: Getty