Amit Kundwal

This is Planet Money from NPR.

This is Planet Money from NPR.

This is Planet Money from NPR.

Hello, Willa. Hey, Amanda. So this question comes from listener Brian Bunton from South Carolina, and he wrote in to ask about his iPhone. He says it's three years old. He probably doesn't need to upgrade it for a few years, but he wants to know— Willa, is it possible that he has called the wrong show?

Hello, Willa. Hey, Amanda. So this question comes from listener Brian Bunton from South Carolina, and he wrote in to ask about his iPhone. He says it's three years old. He probably doesn't need to upgrade it for a few years, but he wants to know— Willa, is it possible that he has called the wrong show?

Hello, Willa. Hey, Amanda. So this question comes from listener Brian Bunton from South Carolina, and he wrote in to ask about his iPhone. He says it's three years old. He probably doesn't need to upgrade it for a few years, but he wants to know— Willa, is it possible that he has called the wrong show?

OK, so he wants to know, should he go ahead and get a new phone before Trump takes office, given that Trump is promising to increase tariffs?

OK, so he wants to know, should he go ahead and get a new phone before Trump takes office, given that Trump is promising to increase tariffs?

OK, so he wants to know, should he go ahead and get a new phone before Trump takes office, given that Trump is promising to increase tariffs?

Yes, exactly. So I called up Yale economics professor Amit Kundwal, who said that one scenario is that maybe there just won't be tariffs on iPhones because companies can request exemptions.

Yes, exactly. So I called up Yale economics professor Amit Kundwal, who said that one scenario is that maybe there just won't be tariffs on iPhones because companies can request exemptions.

Yes, exactly. So I called up Yale economics professor Amit Kundwal, who said that one scenario is that maybe there just won't be tariffs on iPhones because companies can request exemptions.

Yeah, so iPhones were almost subject to tariffs, but Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, during the last trade dispute, he went to Trump and was like, listen, if you put tariffs on the iPhones that we assemble in China, those tariffs will make it harder for my American company to compete with Androids, many of which are made by Samsung, South Korean company, which does a lot of its manufacturing in Vietnam.

Yeah, so iPhones were almost subject to tariffs, but Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, during the last trade dispute, he went to Trump and was like, listen, if you put tariffs on the iPhones that we assemble in China, those tariffs will make it harder for my American company to compete with Androids, many of which are made by Samsung, South Korean company, which does a lot of its manufacturing in Vietnam.

Yeah, so iPhones were almost subject to tariffs, but Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, during the last trade dispute, he went to Trump and was like, listen, if you put tariffs on the iPhones that we assemble in China, those tariffs will make it harder for my American company to compete with Androids, many of which are made by Samsung, South Korean company, which does a lot of its manufacturing in Vietnam.

And ultimately, there was never a tariff on iPhones. Also, Tim Cook does seem to be maintaining his relationship with Trump. He recently visited Mar-a-Lago. Also, he donated a million dollars to Trump's inauguration fund.

And ultimately, there was never a tariff on iPhones. Also, Tim Cook does seem to be maintaining his relationship with Trump. He recently visited Mar-a-Lago. Also, he donated a million dollars to Trump's inauguration fund.

And ultimately, there was never a tariff on iPhones. Also, Tim Cook does seem to be maintaining his relationship with Trump. He recently visited Mar-a-Lago. Also, he donated a million dollars to Trump's inauguration fund.

Right. Although Trump has also said that he would increase tariffs on everything coming from China.

Right. Although Trump has also said that he would increase tariffs on everything coming from China.