California's Attorney General Prepared to Act Against Presidential Tariff Threat
During a press conference held on Friday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed his readiness to take legal action against President Trump's recent threats directed at Apple. Trump suggested imposing a 25% tariff on the tech giant unless it relocates iPhone manufacturing back to the United States, sparking immediate concern from state officials.
In response to inquiries addressed by a Politico reporter at a gathering with local business leaders, Bonta asserted, "We definitely will assess our potential role. We’ll be monitoring what he does, if he does anything, and we’ll make sure that if the law is broken and we have standing to sue, we’ll take appropriate action." This statement signals a proactive stance by the Attorney General's office in potentially challenging any unlawful or arbitrary measures initiated by the federal government.
Trump's remarks on his social media platform, Truth Social, urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to manufacture iPhones exclusively in the U.S., explicitly rejecting production in India or other countries. The president reinforced this standpoint later in the day, extending the tariff threat to include Samsung and other manufacturers producing similar products.
Bonta shared his disappointment regarding Trump's statement, suggesting that such impulsiveness does not reflect a well-considered approach to economic policy. He remarked, "It’s almost like he wakes up in the morning and he says, ‘Hey, I think Apple should build more Apple phones,’ and so maybe I’ll tell their CEO that he should do that. And then maybe tomorrow, he wakes up and says, ‘Hey, I was just kidding.’" This comment underscores the unpredictability often associated with Trump's communications and decision-making.
As someone who has previously challenged Big Tech regarding issues of privacy and monopoly power, Bonta reiterated the importance of safeguarding the economic rights of California corporations. "It’s because of companies like Apple that California has become the fourth-largest economy in the world," he stated. "We’re proud of California companies, and we want to make sure their rights are not violated—especially by the president of the United States, which is not something that you would normally have to protect against." This reflects the critical relationship between tech firms and the Californian economy.
While Apple has yet to release an official comment regarding Trump's tariff threat, their stock saw a decline of 3% on Friday, contributing to an already challenging week for its investors. This financial impact amplifies the stakes of Trump's threats, not only for Apple but also for the broader market and economy.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will proceed with these proposed tariffs, and how California's legal response might shape the landscape of corporate governance and economic policy within the United States.
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