Tariffs Would Hit All of Apple’s ‘Major Products,’ Harm Its ‘Global Competitiveness’

The proposed List 4 Section 301 tariffs cover “all of Apple’s major products,” and would harm the company’s “global competitiveness,” said the iPhone maker in heavily redacted comments posted Thursday in docket USTR-2019-0004. “The Chinese producers we compete with in global markets do not have a significant presence in the U.S. market, and so would not be impacted by U.S. tariffs,” said Apple. “A U.S. tariff would, therefore, tilt the playing field in favor of our global competitors.” Tariffs also would reduce Apple’s “U.S. economic contribution,” it said. It vowed last year “to make a total direct contribution to the U.S. economy of over $350 billion over 5 years and we are pleased to report that we are on track to achieve this contribution,” the company said now.