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Trump Again Demands Apple Make iPhones In America
Maybe the iPhones aren't safe after all.
Donald Trump put a damper on Friday's pre-Memorial Day wee
Obviously someone forgot to take their meds this morning. How in the effing hell do so many people believe in this ridiculous man child? This presidency has been a total and complete farce and everyone knows it deep down, whether or not their pride allows them to acknowledge it.
What was that wonderful acronym you used in place of TDS again?
Tariff Derangement Syndrome?
Just as he declared Tesla’s Model S as “everything’s computer,” I’ve taken to declare him “everything’s toll booth.”
Does anyone honestly believe Mar-A-Lardo or Lutnick give one flying hoot where iPhones are assembled? It’s leverage and exercise of power. But now he’s discovered the beautiful word “tariffs” just like an infant discovers the kitchen cabinet where the pot lids cum cymbals are stored. Our government needs a giant childproof cabinet lock.
We used to say things like, “one of these days he will go too far”. Today I think there might be nothing Trump can do or say, that will drive his cult followers away.
So we have a de-facto 25% smartphone tax now
At $2500 a phone it’s gonna get a lot easier to separate myself from a smartphone.
If POTUS decrees a tariff on text messages next week, the truth will be revealed: H is manipulating the man in order to achieve his noble goal of eliminating smart phone culture and re-socializing the American public.
?
To my recollection tariffs are traditionally used to protect specific markets like steel, cars or an agricultural product. How is it legal to tariff one specific product from an entire category called cellphones. Is Trump punishing a US based company in favor of Samsung, Sony and Huawei? So could Trump tariff any Toyota not made in the US but apply nothing to Subarus or Hondas made overseas. Following that thinking, is there going to be a line of CEOs with jets, hotel projects and Milania film deals at Trump’s door hoping to have their competitors disadvantaged.
25% tariffs applied to all imported smartphones might not faze, and might even benefit, AAPL.
Suppose AAPL TSM and HonHai work a three-way deal – TSM marks up its US-mfg semis to AAPL, HonHai discounts its China assembly, TSM pays HonHai.
As the only smartphone maker sourcing processors (at scale) from TSM’s AZ fabs, only AAPL could do this.
As special 25% tariff applied only to AAPL smartphones – that would be an interesting litigation.
Trump says would levy tariff on all smartphones if tariffs AAPL. Of course, that is what he says today . . .
I really hope he tries this one. It will mean he can tell any firm what to do. The top CEOs ill not stand for this. Few in this country who want to work are capable of doing this work and it won’t happen.
“Captain Capricious” strikes again!