(Washington) The Apple technology giant promised on Wednesday $ 100 billion in additional investments in the United States during a White House event alongside the American president who hopes that iPhone will end up being manufactured in the country.
“We are committed to 100 billion additional investments in the United States, bringing the total of our investments in the country to 600 billion over four years,” said the owner of the Californian group Tim Cook from the Oval office.
He also announced the launch of a program to manufacture, in the United States, “strategic components present in Apple products all over the world”.
“Already this year, American manufacturers are about to make 19 billion chips for Apple in 24 factories distributed in 12 states,” continued Tim Cook, adding that investments in artificial intelligence (IA) would also be increased.
“We will continue to invest here in America. We will continue to hire in America, “he said before President Donald Trump.
Since his return to power, the latter has significantly noted customs duties on products entering the United States, in particular to push manufacturers to stay or return to the United States.
He also announced during the same event that he wanted to set up a surcharge of 100 % on the chips and imported semiconductors, without giving a date.
“But the good news for companies like Apple is that if you build [des usines] In the United States or you are committed to doing so, you will not have to pay, “he continued.
“Olivier branch”
The head of state, faced with an increasing skepticism of the Americans on the economy, praised “Apple’s greatest investment in America and the world”.
“This is an important step towards the ultimate goal which is to see the iPhone sold in the United States of America, made in America,” said Donald Trump.
The announcement of investments had leaked in advance in media, and was confirmed to AFP earlier during the day by a senior White House official.
For Nancy Tengler, director of the investment company Laffer Tengler, Apple’s announcement is akin to an “olive branch” tense by its boss Tim Cook, after Donald Trump criticized the company abundantly because of his production of iPhone outside the United States.
Apple has long assembled most of its iPhone in subcontractors in China. Since 2018, faced with the rise of trade tensions between the two countries, the firm has gradually moved part of its production in India.
In early May, Tim Cook said he expected that “the majority of the iPhone sold in the United States” during the current quarter come from India.
Donald Trump had then threatened to impose “at least 25 %” of customs duties on Apple, if the company did not repatriate its factories.
“Cook managed to sail in these unpublished troubled waters, proving that it is 10 % politician and 90 % CEO,” said Dan Ives, analyst at Wedbush on Wednesday.
Cost of living
“He will take advantage of his solid international relations to ensure more peaceful times in Cupertino, despite concerns about Apple’s growth while Trump is again committed to the path of” America first “and increases in customs duties,” he added.
On the New York Stock Exchange, the Apple title closed up 5.09 % to 213.25 dollars.
The American president relies on protectionism to reindustrialize the United States.
But the pharaonic figures he highlights – for example, he mentioned a total amount of $ 10,000 billion – are according to experts that are difficult to verify, because they mix concrete investment projects, announcements before his return to power, and more or less vague long -term promises.
A Morning Consult/The Century Foundation survey published on July 31 shows that 83 % of Americans are concerned about the food price, and that 48 % of them would struggle to deal with an unexpected expenditure of $ 500 – as a medical bill or an urgent repair.
In the same opinion survey, 61 % of those questioned judge that Donald Trump’s decisions had a negative impact on the cost of living, and 76 % are concerned with a possible recession.