Some Apple products to be left off Trump tariff list: report

Some Apple products might be left off the latest round of tariffs that the Trump administration will place on Chinese products.

The administration is set to put out a final list of items that will be affected by the new tariffs but Apple AirPods and Apple Watches will likely be left off that list, Bloomberg reports.

{mosads}Similar smartwatches and fitness trackers made by Apple’s competitors are not on the list either.

The news follows Apple saying in a letter earlier this month that many of its products would be affected by the proposed tariff.

“It is difficult to see how tariffs that hurt U.S. companies and U.S. consumers will advance the Government’s objectives with respect to China’s technology policies,” Apple said in its letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

“We hope, instead, that you will reconsider these measures and work to find other, more effective solutions that leave the U.S. economy and U.S. consumer stronger and healthier than ever before.”

At the time, President Trump tweeted that Apple should make its products in the U.S. to avoid tariffs.

Apple prices may increase because of the massive Tariffs we may be imposing on China – but there is an easy solution where there would be ZERO tax, and indeed a tax incentive. Make your products in the United States instead of China. Start building new plants now. Exciting! #MAGA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2018

Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously said it was likely that Trump’s trade measures would not impact the price of the iPhone, which is a big driver of the company’s profits, and left it off a list of potentially affected products.

Trump met with Cook last month amid rolling discussions on more stringent trade measures, touting that the Apple chief “is investing big dollars in U.S.A.”