Report: How Tim Cook managed to get US customs exceptions for the iPhone

Apple boss Tim Cook has negotiated directly with the US authorities to achieve exceptions to hard tariffs for their own products such as the iPhone. The Writes the Washington Post In an exclusive report. As a result, Cook had a phone call with the responsible Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick. In it, the Apple boss explained what potential effects that had up to 145 percent import taxes on products from China. In analyst circles, prices from $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 were directly affected, which had directly affected American customers. After the decision to suspend the tariffs for 90 days, US President Donald Trump was “flexible” to the press and announced that he was talking to Cook and other industrial leaders.

Cook does not criticize publicly

According to Washington Post, Cook explicitly decided not to publicly criticize Trump’s tariffs – in contrast to other CEOs. Cook has “an excellent relationship” to Trump, according to former Minister of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who posted Lutnick’s post during the first Trump government.

“In general, he enjoys great respect because he is not a public nagger and not a howling, but speaks to the voice of reality. It is no surprise for me that his suggestions are well received.” Cooks act “very carefully” in his role because Apple depends heavily on China, but is also “extremely important for the USA,” said Ross.

Exceptions currently still temporary

Apple’s problem: Currently, the exceptions of the punitive tariffs are temporary as mentioned. Trump had already announced that there should be certain “folding pots” for electronic companies. The government in particular wants to look at the semiconductor and electronics supply chain and still wants to be produced in the USA as much as possible- but this will take (many) years if it is possible.

Another problem remains how China reacts. So the iPhone sales are falling again-although most of the devices are still produced there. Meanwhile, the Apple share continues to drive roller coaster. On Monday it went again down by almost 2 percentmarket capitalization is less than $ 3 trillion.