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Apple<\/a> CEO Tim Cook gifted former President Donald Trump a $6,000 Mac Pro computer after the two men reached a deal for the tech giant to receive an exemption to a series of tariffs in 2019, according to Bloomberg<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the time Apple and Cook were applying a charm offensive<\/a> to persuade then-President Trump to remove tariffs on certain components that came from China. Cook asked Trump if he could meet him in person<\/a> to make Apple\u2019s case, a gesture the former president found \u201cimpressive,\u201d he told Bloomberg. Trump was particularly pleased at the time that Cook reached out, especially considering his acrimonious relationship<\/a> with other tech CEOs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTim Cook calls Donald Trump directly,\u201d Trump said<\/a> in August 2019. \u201cThat\u2019s why he\u2019s a great executive, because he calls me, and others don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly after taking office, Trump had imposed 25% tariffs on 10 parts used in building Mac Pro computers that came from China. The price increase meant potentially billions of dollars in additional costs for Apple, but when Apple first sought an exception on the trade tariffs, Trump responded with his usual obstinance.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cApple will not be given Tariff waiver, or relief, for Mac Pro parts that are made in China,\u201d Trump posted<\/a> on X (still Twitter<\/a> at the time). \u201cMake them in the USA, no Tariffs!\u201d<\/p>\n Eventually Apple and the Trump administration reached an agreement: the White House would grant Apple an exemption to the tariffs and Apple would build the computers in the U.S. Once the production lines were up and running, Cook gifted Trump one of the first Mac Pros built at the factory, according to Bloomberg. The Mac Pro is Apple\u2019s most powerful computer and generally targeted toward professionals that require large amounts of computing power. It is unclear what Trump did with the gift or how he reacted to receiving it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Apple and the Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the gift.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Trump\u2019s telling of the story, he induced Cook to increase Apple\u2019s manufacturing footprint in the U.S. in exchange for lifting the tariffs. \u201cI said, \u2018I\u2019m gonna do something for you guys,\u2019\u201d Trump told Bloomberg, \u201c\u2018but you have to build in this country.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In reality, the Mac Pro was already assembled<\/a> in the U.S. However, Apple still gave Trump the appearance of strong-arming a Big Tech company when it announced a $1 billion investment in an assembly plant in Austin, Tex. Apple, though, was planning the investment a year earlier, before the dispute over the Chinese tariffs, according to Bloomberg. Nonetheless, Cook and Trump appeared together<\/a> in November 2019 at the Austin assembly facility. Observers at the time considered it a minor win for Trump\u2014who got a photo op in an American factory\u2014as well as for Cook<\/a>\u2014who skirted painful tariffs with a manufacturing investment that had already been in the works at Apple.\u00a0<\/p>\n Apple and Cook may very well have to resort to the same playbook should Trump take office again. The former president has made no secret of his wish to impose even higher tariffs, up to 60%<\/a> on any imports from China<\/a> and 10% on imports from anywhere else. Economists consider the policy inflationary<\/a> for the entire economy and analysts<\/a> believe it would be disastrous for Apple given its heavy reliance on China<\/a> to manufacture many of its most popular products like the iPhone.\u00a0<\/p>\n As a likely contingency plan, Apple has been diversifying its production locations away from China. In April, during a trip across South Asia, Cook announced Apple planned to spend more with suppliers in Vietnam<\/a> and Indonesia<\/a>, although details were scant.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, given Trump\u2019s desire to impose tariffs on any foreign goods, manufacturing in Vietnam or Indonesia, as opposed to China, would still result in a cost increase for Apple. For his part though Trump shows little intention on relenting when it comes to tariffs.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe how many people are negative on tariffs that are actually smart,\u201d Trump told Bloomberg. \u201cMan, is it good for negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n If Trump were indeed to win reelection and implement his tariff policy, Cook will likely bank on his cozy relationship with the former president, which earned him an exemption five years ago. Trump does seem to have a fair amount of goodwill for Cook, the chief executive of the world\u2019s most valuable company.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI found him to be a very good businessman,\u201d Trump said about Cook.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Newsletter:<\/strong> The Fortune Next to Lead newsletter is a must-read for the next generation of C-suite leaders. Every Monday, the newsletter provides the strategies, resources, and expert insight needed to claim the most coveted positions in business. Subscribe now<\/a>.<\/div>\n