Apple CEO Tim Cook has met with US President Donald Trump to discuss the country's escalating trade war with China. Apple is looking to stop the US administration from placing import tariffs on mobile phones imported from China and argued the tariffs could favour its rival Samsung.
Apple would be hit by the new tariffs set to come into effect later this year because its products are largely made in China. Samsung however would avoid the extra costs, as its manufacturing takes place elsewhere in Asia, such as Vietnam, India and other countries.
"I had a very good meeting with Tim Cook," Trump told reporters after a dinner with Cook in New Jersey, ABC reported. "Tim was talking to me about tariffs. And one of the things, and he made a good case, is that Samsung is their number one competitor, and Samsung is not paying tariffs because they're based in South Korea."
Trump added that Cook "made a very compelling argument, so I'm thinking about it."
An additional 10 percent tariff on mobile phones as well as other consumer electronics such as laptops had been expected to take effect in September. However, the US government granted a delay to 15 December for products such as smartphones, in order to support the industry in year-end sales and continue trade talks with China.
