Apple CEO Tim Cook is visiting China for at least the third time this year as the tech giant prepares for president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed import tariffs and the impact on global trade.
Cook joined more than 20 top executives on Monday for a roundtable discussion with Chinese Premier Li Qiang ahead of a five-day supply chain conference in Beijing, according to a Bloomberg report.
According to Bloomberg, the discussion was focused on supply chain and trade issues. It is the first high-level roundtable between a senior Beijing official and foreign companies since Trump won the US presidential election earlier this month.
Companies around the world are bracing for the president-elect’s proposed tariff policies. Trump has said he would introduce a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and a levy of at least 10% on goods imported from every other country.
China is one of Apple’s largest producers and most important international markets. Previous estimates have indicated that over 95% of its iPhones, AirPods, Macs, and iPads are made in China.
“I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them,” Cook said of Apple’s partners in China in an interview on Monday posted by a social media account connected to China Central Television.
Apple has also been grappling with a sales slowdown in China over the past year as local rivals such as Huawei take more market share.
It has also faced pressure from the Chinese government as employees were told not to use iPhones at work. The government has previously denied these reports.
Cook has made at least three public appearances in China this year to show his commitment to the country. He was previously in Beijing last month to discuss increasing investment in China.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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