Report: How Tim Cook helped Apple avoid Trump’s tariffs

Over the week, the Trump administration announced a set of exemptions for its tariffs imposed on products imported into the United States from China. The exemptions cover product categories like smartphones and laptops, giving Apple a huge reprieve for the iPhone, Mac, and more. In comments earlier this week, Trump bragged about how he “helped” Apple with these exemptions. A new report from The Washington Post dives into the inner workings of the Trump administration, particularly as they relate to Apple CEO Tim Cook. According to the report, Cook spoke to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last week “about the potential impact of the tariffs on iPhone prices.” In addition to Lutnick, he also spoke with “other senior officials in the White House.” Perhaps most importantly, Cook “refrained from publicly criticizing the president or his policies on national television.” Wilbur Ross, commerce secretary during Trump’s first term, said it’s unsurprising that the current administration has ... Read full article.