[LI] Apple announced this morning that the company will manufacture its new Mac Pro in its facility in Austin, TX.Graphic provided by our correspondent behind the 'Green Door' at Bletchley Park.
There is a slight catch. Apple secured tariff waivers "for certain necessary components" not made in America.
Apple decided in June to move production of the Mac Pro to China. A month after the decision, President Donald Trump vowed not to give Apple any tariff waivers or relief. The company could only avoid tariffs if it builds the Mac Pro in America.
Despite the threat, Apple filed 15 requests for tariff exemptions:
"We can't get these
Among the computer components that are now exempt for Apple ‐ and all other manufacturers ‐ are partially assembled main circuit boards and graphics cards, and they are some of the most expensive parts in the machine. These have chips from Intel Corp, Nvidia Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc, which are mostly the costliest parts of the machines.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative approved 10 of those exemptions. This includes "partially assembled main circuit boards and graphics cards, which contain expensive chips from Intel, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices."
Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the majority of components will come "from 36 states, supporting 450,000 jobs with US suppliers." He also vowed "to continue growing here."
Apple touted its contributions to the American economy in its press release: