Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for an interview with Fox Business on Thursday, where he spoke about the impact of the coronavirus on Apple’s business. While portions of the interview were shared yesterday, the entire 10-minute interview has now been released.
During the interview, Cook says things are coming along in terms of “bringing things back,” but it will take some time. “By and large, I think this is a temporary condition, not a long-term kind of thing. Apple is fundamentally strong, and that’s how I see it,” Cook said.
Cook says he’s not sure if the outbreak will continue to impact Apple’s sales past the March quarter. He says the focus has shifted from China to South Korea and Italy, and Cook and he believes it’s important to see “what happens there and whether something new comes out of that.”
As for the effect of the coronavirus on Apple stock, Cook said:
I don’t really focus on the short term in relation to the market. I think for me, and the way we run the company, we work towards the long-term and I see no long-term difference between what was happening four weeks ago versus what’s happening today.
The market takes time to recognize that and so forth. It’s going to do what it’s going to do, and I’m the last person to be able to predict it. For me, yeah, I look through that. Look through the noise and concentrate on the future. And the future looks very bright.
As for whether or not Apple is working on moving more of its supply chain outside of China, Cook says his company focuses on the resilience of the supply chain, not the coronavirus disaster itself.
The question for us after we get on the other side will be ‘Was the resilience there or not, and do we need to make some changes?’ My perspective sitting here today is that if there are changes, you’re talking about adjusting some knobs, not some kind of wholesale fundamental change.
Cook also touched on other subjects, including his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, Apple’s plans for expansion in India, and more. The full interview can be watched over on Fox Business.
