Apple Warns of Potential Tariff Impact in SEC Filing

Wednesday August 1, 2018 5:01 PM PDT by Juli Clover
In its quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Apple this afternoon warned investors about the impact U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods could have on the company.

As Bloomberg points out, the document contains wording suggesting tariffs and other protectionist measures could "adversely affect" Apple's business, resulting in lower gross margin or products that are more expensive for consumers.
International trade disputes could result in tariffs and other protectionist measures that could adversely affect the Company's business. Tariffs could increase the cost of the Company's products and the components and raw materials that go into making them. These increased costs could adversely impact the gross margin that the Company earns on sales of its products.

Tariffs could also make the Company's products more expensive for customers, which could make the Company's products less competitive and reduce consumer demand. Countries may also adopt other protectionist measures that could limit the Company's ability to offer its products and services. Political uncertainty surrounding international trade disputes and protectionist measures could also have a negative effect on consumer confidence and spending, which could adversely affect the Company's business.
It is common for Apple's quarterly 10-Q filings to mention how the company might be impacted by political events, but prior documents have not specifically referenced trade disputes.

During yesterday's earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook elaborated on how trade disputes might affect the company. Cook said that of the three tariffs put in place on steel, aluminum, and $50B worth of additional goods from China, none impact Apple's products directly.

A fourth tariff on $200 billion in Chinese goods is up for public comment, and Cook said Apple is evaluating this tariff and will share details at a later date.

The original Apple Watch has been named in this latest proposal, alongside devices that include the Fitbit Charge and some Sonos speakers. Apple has already discontinued its original Apple Watch and newer Apple Watch models are not included.

Cook says that Apple does not think tariffs are the right approach to improving trade agreements and the company is planning to share its views with the Trump administration.

He also said that he was "optimistic" the tariff issue will get sorted out, and that Apple is hoping "calm heads prevail."

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
21 comments


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mariusignorello
19 weeks ago

Simply Pure Apple Greed
Almost A TRILLION dollars and they are worried about making 2% less each year in profit while still getting RICHER everyday. While being worth over a trillion dollars.
It’s like complaining about making a penny less per hour.

It’s called running a business. I can tell you’ve never done it.

Simply Pure Apple Greed
Almost A TRILLION dollars and they are worried about making 2% less each year in profit while still getting RICHER everyday. While being worth over a trillion dollars.
It’s like complaining about making a penny less per hour.

Did you do the math on that 2%? We’re not talking about pennies here...
Rating: 7 Votes
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Asarien
19 weeks ago
Well, America being great has it's costs. :rolleyes:
Rating: 5 Votes
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DBZmusicboy01
19 weeks ago
Simply Pure Apple Greed
Almost A TRILLION dollars and they are worried about making 2% less each year in profit while still getting RICHER everyday. While being worth over a trillion dollars.
It’s like complaining about making a penny less per hour.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Guda.FL
19 weeks ago

Care to flesh out your theory a bit more? What exactly are these anti-competitive behaviors and currency manipulation practices that Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey, Japan and Taiwan have participated in? Those were the first salvo of Trump's tariffs. Don't forget he also attacked the EU with threats of tariffs too. Oh, and the NAFTA agreement.

At this point, China is an afterthought.

Were all prior administrations so horrible that every single trade deal made was utter junk? Or is this simply a case of Trump and his ego not wanting any major deal around unless he made it himself.

Then again, I'm happy to see he has made a few exceptions ('https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/how-ivanka-trumps-fashion-line-was-exempted-from-her-fathers-war-on-chinese-goods/news-story/fe2eb5ccd567062defe1e8dab68dc5a7') to the tariffs, so maybe there is hope after all. :oops:


Hes right, political thought aside. China is well known globally for doing what they are acused of, there are plenty of journals such as the economist you can look up to understand the situation.

And as an example, Canada does have a 240-290% tarrif on american dairy products from milk to butter as an example.

All trump jokes aside, he is focused on american interests first. Despite opinions, i may not agree with each world leader will i hope be biased towards their national interests first. Wheather they are correct or not, i doubt with have any geo economists here that can through down some ideas as to how and why.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Superhai
19 weeks ago


It’s like complaining about making a penny less per hour.

I don’t think a warning and complaining means the same.
Anyway stock-holding companies are generally required by law to file warnings when they reasonably should expect events that may affect the stock prices.
Rating: 3 Votes
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IPPlanMan
19 weeks ago
This is what fighting back against a trade abuser and a currency manipulator looks like. I don’t know why this surprises anyone here, but this is what happens when a presidential administration has decided that it won’t put up with this kind of anti-competitive behavior from another country. This isn’t something you saw during the last administration because it decided it was better for the American worker to be screwed over than to have a trade dispute. These tariffs will go away when China decides to play by the rules.
Rating: 3 Votes
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BlazednSleepy
19 weeks ago
Thanks Obama! Wait...
Rating: 2 Votes
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statik13
19 weeks ago

This is what fighting back against a trade abuser and a currency manipulator looks like. I don’t know why this surprises anyone here, but this is what happens when a presidential administration has decided that it won’t put up with this kind of anti-competitive behavior from another country. This isn’t something you saw during the last administration because it decided it was better for the American worker to be screwed over than to have a trade dispute. These tariffs will go away when China decides to play by the rules.


Care to flesh out your theory a bit more? What exactly are these anti-competitive behaviors and currency manipulation practices that Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey, Japan and Taiwan have participated in? Those were the first salvo of Trump's tariffs. Don't forget he also attacked the EU with threats of tariffs too. Oh, and the NAFTA agreement.

At this point, China is an afterthought.

Were all prior administrations so horrible that every single trade deal made was utter junk? Or is this simply a case of Trump and his ego not wanting any major deal around unless he made it himself.

Then again, I'm happy to see he has made a few exceptions ('https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/how-ivanka-trumps-fashion-line-was-exempted-from-her-fathers-war-on-chinese-goods/news-story/fe2eb5ccd567062defe1e8dab68dc5a7') to the tariffs, so maybe there is hope after all. :oops:
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
GuruZac
19 weeks ago


Were all prior administrations so horrible that every single trade deal made was utter junk?

Yes. And all lacked the political backbone to do a damn thing about it. Meanwhile, America's jobs have been shipped everywhere else.


Or is this simply a case of Trump and his ego not wanting any major deal around unless he made it himself.

No. In defense of Trump, he has been on the record stating his total dissatisfaction with America's trade deals going back to the early 80s. He has absolutely been consistent with that, whether you like him or not as President.
[doublepost=1533222172][/doublepost]

Thanks Obama! Wait...

Yes, thank you Obama, and Bush 43, and Clinton, and Bush 41, and Reagan, etc etc etc for keeping trade deals in place that hurt America long term.
Rating: 2 Votes
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GuruZac
19 weeks ago
Looking at current trade deals, you have to wonder who in the hell allowed America to be so lopsidedly screwed over? And why has it been allowed for so long? And now people are bitching and moaning about tariffs (and I'm not specifically targeting Apple here).

This is what fighting back against a trade abuser and a currency manipulator looks like. I don’t know why this surprises anyone here, but this is what happens when a presidential administration has decided that it won’t put up with this kind of anti-competitive behavior from another country. This isn’t something you saw during the last administration because it decided it was better for the American worker to be screwed over than to have a trade dispute. These tariffs will go away when China decides to play by the rules.

Absolutely agree.
Rating: 2 Votes
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