Donald Trump promises he would force Apple to make its computers in United States
The ever-angry and GOP candidate Donald Trump during a speech on Monday said he would force Apple to manufacture its computers and other goods in the U.S. instead of other countries. He said the government should penalize U.S. firms that go overseas to make their goods.
Apple manufactures most of its products in China to maximize profits. It also requires the low-cost labor in China to make its products competitive. In addition, China’s electronics supply chains are much larger than what the US has to offer.
Speaking at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA., Trump intensified his speech-making on Apple’s overseas manufacturing, and claimed somehow the US would get back those jobs in the future. “We have such amazing people in this country: smart, sharp, energetic, they’re amazing,” Trump said. “I was saying make America great again, and I actually think we can say now, and I really believe this, we’re gonna get things coming… we are going to do what’s good for the country. We’re going to get Apple to build its damn computers in this country instead of other countries.”
Trump was short on data, and didn’t speak anything more about Apple. He said the country has lost 10 million jobs and 50,000 manufacturing plants.
“We’re getting killed,” he said.
He said he would charge companies like Ford a tax if they don’t build in the U.S.
“I guarantee you they would say the will build our plant in the U.S.,” he said. “Free trade is good. But we have to do it. Or we won’t have a country left.”
Given Apple’s own reputation as being one of — or partnering with — the best manufacturers on Earth, such as China’s Foxconn sounds like a dumb idea.
Bringing Apple’s manufacturing jobs home isn’t totally out of the question. Currently, Apple only manufactures its Mac Pro in the U.S. (specifically in Austin, Texas). On its jobs creation Web site, Apple maintains it’s responsible for creating and supporting 1.9 million U.S. jobs, as of the end of 2015. It also claims that “thirty-one of the 50 states provide parts, materials, or equipment to make Apple products.”
However, it is much more than this. It is a well-established fact that Apple is hugely dependent on international supply chains and manufacturers. Hence, it will take a lot more than sharp words from Trump to convince Apple to abandon its profits. Even Steve Jobs was not budged on that by one of the most successful presidents in history.
