[baybal2]

A contact at Foxconn just told me yesterday that Apple is genuinely serious about leaving China completely.

Apparently, Mr. Trump summoned Mr. Cook last week, and extended an offer of a tax break and other "relocation packages" on the size "not seen in human history" if Apple moves to USA.

Hearing things like that keeps reminding me that Taiwanese engineering fraternity is one of worlds best intelligence agencies :)

[brown9-2]

Feels like this should be taken with a big grain of salt. Presidents can’t extend tax breaks

[rolltiide]

President can characterize the transaction as something else and get the same result

[sjwright]

Bold Presidents can do a lot more than we assume; so much of their assumed limits on power are moderated by convention, reputation, and the willingness for opponents to use the courts.

If we take no other lesson from the past 2.5 years...

[brigandish]

Those last 2.5 years are the culmination of what happened over a hundred years ago with Woodrow Wilson when he criticised the founding documents and dismissed the separation of powers.

This [1] appears to be written from a more right-wing stance, although it could just be rightly critical of Wilson's legacy. Regardless, it's not inaccurate. Hopefully the dislike of Trump will help to shock the rest of the system back into seeing a worth in a strong separation of powers. It's not that Obama didn't also disregard them, it's just that he's far more likeable and suits the views of a lot of people. Not so great when there's an incumbent you don't like.

And that's the point.

[1] https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/2012/09/constitution-201-...

[xrd]

And Apple will milk that agreement long after Trump leaves office, doing whatever makes more sense for the bottom line, even if that means moving to production to Mexico eventually. And, just like all these large companies, will avoid paying corporate taxes to an even greater extent. Trump will claim he restored American manufacturing, and he will have, long enough for him to Tweet about it, and not much longer.

[spacemanmatt]

Every company considering a deal with Trump should consider that America has walked away from shitty deals before. Sometimes it just takes a little while.

[unionpivo]

\s It just has to last long enough for executives to cash in their bonuses.

[Drdrdrq]

I know that was sarcasm, but I don't think it applies to Apple. Their managers seem to be employed long-term and they seem to be loyal.

[hungryhobo]

Cool story, I guess subsidies are ok now.