Trump administration directly intervened to help iPhone maker break into India

Full Title of the article - Apple CEO Tim Cook said the Trump administration directly intervened to help the iPhone maker break into India

The Trump administration helped Apple get a foothold in India, CEO Tim Cook told Fox Business in an interview recorded Thursday. The tech giant announced last week that it would begin online sales in India this year, and aim to open its first store in the country next year. Previously Apple had only been able to sell its products in India through third-party sellers, both online and in physical stores. In 2018, Apple held less than 3% smartphone market share in India thanks to the prevalence of Chinese brands.

This seems to me to be a big win for Apple. From what I recall, Trump and Apple haven't had the coziest of relationships. I feel this move shows that Trump feels that anything good for U.S. business is good for the U.S., regardless of personal feelings. Is there a dark side to this? What other motives might there be? Is this "bad" because the Orange Man is bad?

a reply to: underpass61

Not sure how I feel about this.

It's great that apple is in India.

However it reeks of crony capitalism.

a reply to: grey580
To promote international trade. It's one of the jobs that the State Department was created for. The President is the Head of State, it's kind of his job to do things like this.

He’s good at his job. Unlike his irrelevant and ineffective opposition.

originally posted by: grey580
a reply to: underpass61

Not sure how I feel about this.

It's great that apple is in India.

However it reeks of crony capitalism.

In what way?

Trade inroads are very difficult when dealing with India.

In 2019 we had an over $20 billion trade deficit. Anything that opens up global markets to US goods is good for the country.

I don't see that as cronyism.

I see it as our President throwing his weight around for the good of our economy. I doubt Trump personally benifits from this, aside from having a marker he can call in at another time, when it is also for the country's benifit.

a reply to: Breakthestreak

Exactly - and all in spite of having to deal with all the "never-ending bullsh*t"

originally posted by: grey580
a reply to: underpass61

Not sure how I feel about this.

It's great that apple is in India.

However it reeks of crony capitalism.

Helping American businesses succeed is crony capitalism?

originally posted by: grey580
a reply to: underpass61

Not sure how I feel about this.

It's great that apple is in India.

However it reeks of crony capitalism.

Is it "crony capitalism" or widening the business.
Dang , that "ol green eyed monster" got a stranglehold on some folks.

Donald Trump: The only person that can make some people like Apple. I hear he's working on getting Google and Facebook into a few countries next.

a reply to: underpass61

Is this "bad" because the Orange Man is bad?

That is correct. It will always be bad because orange man bad. That's just the way it is.

a reply to: Mach2

Opening up trade for all US phone companies is one thing.

But opening up trade for just one company?

That's the government favoring one company over others and isn't what the free market is about.

That's my opinion.

a reply to: Gothmog

IMO that's the government sticking it's hand in the free market.

I agree that it's not a bad thing. But I would of like to have seen the free market make the decision to bring the phones to India.

a reply to: grey580

India removed the restrictions on selling direct, which is something Apple is notoriously insistent on. I don't like the way they do business but I don't see how this is stopping any of the other companies from selling their product there.