President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Apple CEO Tim Cook has made a “good case” that 10% tariffs on its imports from China would hit Apple harder than Samsung, which doesn’t face the same hurdle because much of its manufacturing is in South Korea.
President Trump has been threatening tariffs on imports from China, with the latest threat involving a 10% charge on electronics imported from China. Such a tariff would affect most of Apple’s product line. The move is seen as a retaliatory move against the Chinese government over a failed trade deal.
Tim Cook and President Trump met over dinner on Friday to discuss how tariffs would affect Apple. Such fees would hit Apple much harder than competitor Samsung, as Samsung does much of its manufacturing in South Korea, giving the South Korean electronics firm a pricing edge over Apple in the U.S., Cook told Trump.
President Trump told CNBC on Sunday that Cook made a “good case.”
“It’s tough for Apple to pay tariffs if it’s competing with a very good company that’s not,” Trump said.
President Trump’s tariffs, which would apply to over $300 billion in goods imported from China, were set to go into effect on most of Apple’s product line on September 1. However, they have been delayed until December 15, which is seen as a move to not discourage holiday shoppers.