So with all the splashy news about new Apple services and devices this week, where is the reporting on how much tariffs are affecting the pricing scheme on new iPhones, iPads? I'd really like to see MacRumors do some reporting on this issue and provide some breakdown of this.
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Tariffs affecting Apple device prices?
- Thread starter Semaphoric
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So far, Tim Cook has managed to keep the tariffs from affecting Apple products. Who knows how long that will last though.
To report on the issue, journalists need information. Apple doesn't break down the price of its products into their component pieces (display $X, marketing $Y, tariffs and taxes $Z). What they do is report on the overall effect of tax and international trade issues during their quarterly and annual financial reports (impact of currency exchange rates, etc.). If the impact of US tariffs is material to the bottom line, they're obligated to report it at that time. That's also the time when, if a reporter attending the quarterly earnings call asks Apple CFO Luca Maestri, "What effect do you expect tariffs to have on the upcoming quarter's performance," the reporter will get an answer.
Further, the impact of US tariffs is limited to goods Apple imports to and sells within the US. While the US is Apple's largest market, all sales outside the US will be unaffected by US tariffs. Likely, the overall rise/fall of the USD vs the other major world currencies due to this trade dispute will have a bigger financial impact than the actual amount paid in tariffs.
That said, there have been several articles in other media outlets about the price/tariffs question. What can they say? If prices remain steady or drop (as they have), they can't attribute that to something (tariffs) that should logically increase the price. Everyone is scratching their heads and guessing. Do you really want to see another, "We're scratching our heads and guessing" article?
