Apple Seeks Tariff Exemptions on Apple Watch, Mac Components

Apple is seeking tariff exemptions on the Apple Watch and various Mac components it imports from China. The company recently filed comments with the Office of the United States Trade Representative in support of reinstating tariff exclusions that expired December 31, 2020.

In prior notices, the U.S. Trade Representative modified the action in the Section 301 investigation
of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation by excluding certain products from additional duties in multiple tranches. From the various tranches of granted exclusions, the U.S. Trade Representative subsequently extended 549 exclusions. Most of these extensions expired by December 31, 2020. The remainder expired earlier this year. USTR invites specific comments on whether to reinstate particular product exclusions.




Most notable is the request for an exclusion on Apple Watch which is subject to a 7.5% tariff. Where asked to explain its rationale for the exclusion, Apple says, "This exclusion is needed for a U.S.-designed smartwatch that is widely used by consumers for mobile connectivity and health applications."

Mac components are subject to a 25% tariff. Apple is seeking exclusions on printed circuit assemblies, constituting unfinished logic boards, trackpad input units, mouse input devices, power supplies, graphics processing modules, and more.

The Mac Pro is the only Apple computer assembled in the USA. The company's popular iPhone is not subject to import tariffs from China.

Read More [via CNBC]