News analysis How Apple Is Using a Familiar Strategy to Avoid Trump's Tariffs

News analysis

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SAN FRANCISCO - Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook is using a familiar strategy to stay in President Donald Trump's good graces: expanding existing initiatives to show he supports the President's "Made in the USA" agenda.

Standing in the Oval Office on Aug 6 between Mr Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance, Mr Cook announced that Apple will increase its US investment commitment to US$600 billion (S$770 billion) over four years - up from the US$500 billion pledged after Mr Trump's second-term victory.

A centrepiece of the expansion is a US$2.5 billion investment into Corning, Apple's long-time glass supplier. For the first time, the cover glass for all iPhones and Apple Watches will be manufactured in the United States, at Corning's facility in Kentucky. Though Apple has touted the US roots of iPhone glass before, a portion of that glass was previously made overseas.

The iPhone maker also discussed increased agreements focused on semiconductor manufacturing, expanding deals with partners like Samsung Electronics, Texas Instruments and Broadcom. Apple is branding the effort the American Manufacturing Programme.