No Apple ‘Waiver, or Relief’ From Tariffs on Chinese-Made Mac Pro Parts, Tweets Trump

President Donald Trump appeared to put the kibosh on Apple’s requests for List 3 Section 301 tariff exclusions on Chinese imports of graphics processing modules, power supplies, heat sinks and a dozen other types of components for the Mac Pro desktop due this fall. Tweeted Trump Friday: “Apple will not be given Tariff waiver, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China. Make them in the USA, no Tariffs!” There are “no other sources” outside China “for this proprietary, Apple-designed component,” said Apple in each of the 15 product exclusion requests it filed July 18, as searchable Thursday on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative public docket. “This product is a component of a consumer electronic device,” said Apple. “It is not strategically important or related to ‘Made in China 2025' or other Chinese industrial programs.” Public responses in support or opposition to the exclusion requests are due Aug. 1, and Apple had few backers among those who weighed in with an opinion through Friday. “USTR should not set a harmful precedent of exempting companies from tariffs that move jobs to an overt adversary of the United States,” commented Gregory Lewandowski on Apple’s request for tariff exclusions on Mac Pro graphics processing modules. “This is absolute garbage,” commented Logan Marotz of I.E. Productions. “We cannot continue to bend to the will of these companies. They knew the possible consequences of their actions by moving their assembly factories over seas. Tough luck, but this is the game they play.” Apple reportedly is shifting Mac Pro assembly to a contract manufacturer near Shanghai; that it's seeking tariff exclusions on imported parts suggests it's still doing final assembly in Texas, as it did with previous generations of Mac Pro desktops. Apple didn’t comment Friday, nor did USTR on Trump's tweet. Trump also targeted French President Emmanuel Macron Friday and France's initiation of a digital service tax, on which USTR launched a Section 301 investigation July 10. "France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies," tweeted Trump. "If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA. We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!"