Building plants in the United States would help Apple avoid price increases on its products, President Trump said Saturday.
The president’s tweeted comments came after the technology giant complained the cost of many of its most popular items would rise because of Trump’s tariff dispute with China.
“Apple prices may increase because of the massive Tariffs we may be imposing on China – but there is an easy solution where there would be ZERO tax, and indeed a tax incentive. Make your products in the United States instead of China. Start building new plants now,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Apple prices may increase because of the massive Tariffs we may be imposing on China – but there is an easy solution where there would be ZERO tax, and indeed a tax incentive. Make your products in the United States instead of China. Start building new plants now. Exciting! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2018
Trump commented to reporters on Air Force One Friday that his administration had a $267 billion package of import duties “ready to go on short notice if I want.”
Apple warned the U.S. Trade Representative Friday that consumers would suffer if Trump officials impose the threatened $200 billion in levies on Chinese goods, which the president can introduce at any time now that a public comment period has elapsed. The White House in June slapped China with duties on $50 billion worth of the country’s products.
“Given the balance of Apple’s economic footprint, the burden of the proposed tariffs will fall much more heavily on the United States than on China,” Apple wrote. “Tariffs increase the cost of our U.S. operations, divert our resources, and disadvantage Apple compared to foreign competitors.”
The company in August became the first publicly traded U.S. entity to reach $1 trillion in market value.
