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Apple and Fitbit among US tech companies pressing Trump administration to drop China tariffs plan

  • The new round of tariffs would reduce Apple’s competitiveness and cut the contribution it could make to the US Treasury, it said in a filing

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The next round of tariffs is expected to hit AirPods, Apple TVs and batteries and parts. Photo: EPA-EFE

Apple, Keurig Dr Pepper, Dollar Tree and Fitbit have joined other companies in filing letters of opposition to a Trump administration plan for more US tariffs on Chinese goods, including iPhones, MacBooks, and single-serve coffee brewers.

The United States and China are resuming talks to end a trade war after more than a month’s hiatus. The countries’ leaders are expected to meet at the G20 summit in Japan next week.

US President Donald Trump had said he would consider extending tariffs to another US$300 billion of Chinese goods if his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping does not yield progress on the trade dispute.

The new round of tariffs would reduce Apple’s competitiveness and cut the contribution it could make to the US Treasury, Apple said in an online filing on Thursday.

Apple said in the document it is the largest US corporate taxpayer to the US Treasury and reiterated its 2018 pledge to directly contribute over US$350 billion to the US economy over five years.

Apple said it would also take a hit because Chinese and other non-US firms do not have a significant US market presence.

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