Tim Cook personally lobbied US tariff chief as China tariffs loomed

As the tech industry braced for another round of China tariffs last summer, Tim Cook was making the case directly to the agency involved. On July 8th, the Apple CEO spoke directly with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as part of a broader effort to make the US’s china tariffs less damaging to Apple, according to emails obtained by The Verge through a Freedom of Information Act request.

“Tim and POTUS had a discussion today about this as well which I can fill you in on,” an Apple staffer wrote on July 5th, after sending the specific tariff lines that affected parts of the Mac Pro. “Tim was hoping to speak to the Ambassador sometime this weekend if at all possible to follow up.”

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