Mark Niquette and Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Apple Inc. is seeking exclusions from President Donald Trump’s tariffs that went into effect Sept. 1 on the Apple Watch, iMac, parts for the iPhone and other components imported from China.
The company filed requests for exclusions from 15% duties on 11 products or components Thursday, the first day U.S. firms could seek relief from the tariffs on about $110 billion in Chinese imports.
Exclusion decisions are based on whether a product is available only from China, is strategically important or related to Chinese industrial programs, and whether duties will “cause severe economic harm” to the company or U.S. interests.
In its requests for tariff waivers, the Cupertino, California-based company said it hasn’t identified a source outside of China that is able to meet U.S. demand for the products or components in the coming year.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple also is seeking tariff exemptions on HomePod, Beats’ Pill+ wireless speaker, AirPods, Beats wireless earbuds, iPhone smart battery case, AirPods charging case, and PowerBeats, storage components for the Mac Pro, and batteries for the iPhone and MacBook.