Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said on Tuesday that the firm intends to produce the U.S. Mac Pro computer, suggesting that Apple is talking about the subject to the Trump administration.
“We made the Mac Pro in the U.S. in terms of exclusion. We want to keep doing that, “Cook told analysts on a call. “We are presently working and investing in the ability to do so because we want to stay here.”
“So that’s what the exclusions are about. And so we explain that and hope for a positive result, “he continued.
The computer of $5,999 is not yet on sale. Apple announced the first Mac Pro redesign since a fall release date in June 2013. Last week, Apple applied for Mac Pro components produced in China to be excluded from duty. President Trump replied later, saying his administration would not grant any exclusions to Apple.
“Tariff wavers or relief will not be provided to Apple for Mac Pro components produced in China,” tweeted President Trump.” Buy them in the United States, no tariffs!” Before this recent redesign, previous versions of the Mac Pro were assembled in Texas. But most of the goods from Apple are assembled in China— it has been revealed that Quanta, near Shanghai, would assemble this fresh Mac Pro redesign.
Trump later said in an Oval Office interview on Friday that he was expecting Apple to announce the construction of a Texas plant.
“A guy I love and respect is Tim Cook, and we’re going to work it out, I believe they’re going to announce they’re going to construct a Texas plant, and if they do, I’m beginning to get very pleased, okay,” Trump said last Friday.
Apple has refused to comment.
Apple basically wants to continue what it has done, which is to do as much U.S. manufacturing as it makes sense to do the final assembly of the high-end desktop here, while key components are still manufactured in China. That’s the same set-up that Apple has with the present Mac Pro, the only significant domestically assembled hardware product of the company.
If it faces tariffs, it could render it economically impossible to do so and prompt the business to move to manufacture to China.
Nevertheless, the step taken by Apple is a huge one and the fact that Apple now manufacturing Mac Pro in the U.S.A itself looks promising amid the U.S-China trade war.
