On the verge of implementing a new wave of tariffs on consumer goods imported from China, the US government has confirmed a 5% increase in rates over $ 300 billion and $ 250 billion in products that will come into effect from day one. September 1st and December 15threspectively.
As we reported a few weeks ago, the rates that will air next week will affect several gadgets Apple, but they were expected to be 25%, but with the White House reach 30%. Meanwhile, the December rates that will affect Ma's flagship product, the iPhone, up to 15% (compared to 10% at the beginning of the month).
THE Reuters reported that the policy was confirmed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The announcement, which was aired in advance by the president of the Donald Trump, has at the time caused Apple shares to pay about 4 percentage points.
The new 30% tariff, which will take effect in September, will affect the following gadgets from Apple:
- iMacs;
- Apple Watches;
- AirPods and all Beats headphones;
- HomePods.
Similarly, the products that will be priced at 15% from December are as follows:
- iPhones;
- iPads;
- MacBooks Air / Pro;
- iPods touch;
- Apple TVs;
- Apple Pro Display XDR;
- Keyboards;
- Other (wired) headphones.
For now, Apple plans to absorb the extra costs of the fare, and while Trump has said that the Apple CEO has “argued convincingly” against the fees, it seems that Cook's print has already been forgotten by the president.
China, on the other hand, is interested in discussing a possible solution to the trade war and does not want to make things worse, as stated by the country's Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng:
We firmly reject an escalation of the trade war and are willing to negotiate and collaborate to resolve this problem with a calm attitude.
Despite the regrets, Feng says the powers have maintained "effective" communication, but did not comment on Trump's allegation that Chinese representatives had called on the US president to think of a solution to the trade war.
Apple continues to rely mostly on China
With tariff increases and the number of Apple devices imported from China to be affected, it has sometimes been speculated that the Cupertino giant would be working to reduce its dependence on its Chinese suppliers. However, a recent analysis of the Reuters points out that this is not quite the case.
Although Apple's suppliers have opened new facilities in other countries (such as Foxconn, which has factories in Brazil and India), they have limited capacity, meaning Apple's largest contracts are even in China.
Exploring factories in Brazil and India has not diminished Apple's dependence on China, according to Apple's supply chain data. That raises the stakes for the iPhone maker, as US President Donald Trump has waged a trade war (with China) and promises more tariffs.
In Tupiniquin lands, Foxconn (located in São Paulo city of Jundia) assembles iPhones 7, 8, 8 Plus and XR; A few years ago the company stopped working with iPads around here.
In 2015, for now, Foxconn installed only three new factories, a much slower growth rate than China, which jumped from 30 to 52 in the same period.
Factories outside China are smaller and, in the case of India and Brazil, Apple uses them only to meet domestic demand. () Already in China, the new factories emerge when Apple launches watches, smart speakers and wireless headsets its product line.
However small, it is expected that the production of gadgets Foxconn outside of China is sufficient to meet US consumer demand if things really tighten up on Ma's side and the company has to migrate much of its production out of Asia.
via 9to5Mac, AppleInsider