Apple seeks tariff exemptions

Apple is asking the U.S. government to exclude its products — including the mega-popular iPhone — from President Trump’s next round of proposed tariffs on Chinese imports.

In a letter made public on Thursday, the tech giant wrote that the tariffs could give an advantage to Apple’s Chinese competitors as well as reduce Apple’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

“U.S. tariffs would also weigh on Apple’s global competitiveness,” Apple wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

What Apple wants: The company is asking Lighthizer to strike Apple products from Trump’s proposed tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports, which, if implemented, would affect the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, AppleTV and more.

Trump and Apple: Apple has an advantage over other companies in some ways, considering the company’s CEO Tim Cook has a close relationship with Trump. In February, Cook joined the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, a White House body tasked with helping to develop a “21st century workforce” plan.

Trump has previously indicated a fondness for Apple’s Cook, and in March made headlines when he referred to him as “Tim Apple.”