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I suspect Apple is concerned not just with the tariff, but the next tweet and the next…

Tim already paid his bribe, https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/apple-ceo-tim-cook-don... and others who have cut deals with him have found those deals to be less than solid. Law firms that settled with Trump have reported that they've received demands well outside their agreements.

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Concern is certainly understandable.

The choice for Apple (and everyone) is how to respond effectively and appropriately.

As it stands, the world economy is being subjected to the whims of one person. And this person has a checkered history with marketplace economics.

In the third world, $1M is hardly considered as a bribe. For large contracts in the third world, companies pay 20% as bribe. That's why Benazir Bhutto's husband is called "Mr 10%". In India, regional parties rule many states; the big bosses there want 20%.

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