Trump says he talked to Apple CEO Tim Cook about tariffs and Samsung
U.S. President Donald Trump talks to Apple Cook CEO Tim Cook during a US Workforce Advisory Board meeting in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, Wednesday, March 6, 2019. [19659002] Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
President Donald Trump said he talked to Tim Cook about tariffs and Apple's South Korean competitor Samsung.
Trump said Cook made a "good case" that it would be difficult for Apple to pay tariffs when Samsung does not. face the same obstacle because much of the production is in South Korea.
"I thought he made a very convincing argument," Trump told reporters Sunday. The president said he had dinner with Apple's CEO on Friday.
Trump has ordered 1[ads1]0% tariffs for another $ 300 billion in goods imported from China. Originally, all these tariffs were to take effect on September 1, but Trump delayed some of the import duties until December 15 for concerns about how they would affect the holiday shopping season.
"It is tough for Apple to pay tariffs if it competes with a very good company that is not," Trump said.
The tariffs delayed until December include consumer electronics such as mobile phones. Apple shares closed up 4% Tuesday after Trump made that decision.
Apple is expected to release its new version of the iPhone in September.
