TECH NEWS – Apple CEO Tim Cook is extremely grateful to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Amid ongoing tensions between Apple and the new import policy, Cook saw fit to make a virtual appearance at a gathering of business leaders this week to celebrate Trump’s first 100 days in office. Cook offered insight into the company’s ambitions and future investments in the U.S. The CEO specifically thanked Trump for his focus on domestic semiconductor manufacturing. He emphasized that Apple will invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and that the company has a long-standing relationship with domestic suppliers.

“I have always said that Apple could only have been created in the United States. We are a uniquely American company, and we care deeply about our impact on this country. That’s why we recently announced plans to spend $500 billion here over the next four years. We’re expanding our teams and facilities in several states, including Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington. We’re also building a new advanced AI server factory in Texas, and we’re doubling our U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to help companies expand in America.

We’re proud to be creating millions of jobs here and making significant investments to catalyze a new era of advanced manufacturing, and we’re proud to support companies across the country that help us deliver for our users. In total, we have more than nine thousand U.S. suppliers in all fifty states. We work with American companies to source everything from the components we use for Face ID to the glass that goes into an iPhone. And we expect to source more than nineteen billion chips in America this year from companies in a dozen states. That includes tens of millions of advanced chips being made right now by TSMC in Arizona, where we are the first and largest customer.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge President Trump’s focus on domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and we’ll continue to work with the administration as we invest in these areas. Needless to say, we are excited about the future of American innovation and the incredible opportunities it will create, and we are honored to do our part,” Cook said in the video embedded below.

Apple is currently struggling with high import taxes, forcing it to raise the price of its products. Although the company is sticking with current prices in the short term, new product announcements may already have a higher price tag. Apple is also encouraging its suppliers to expand manufacturing facilities in the U.S., but it did so before Trump.

Source: WCCFTech