Breakfast Meeting in Davos
First Meeting After Apple’s Public Criticism Over Navy Base Shooting Investigation
Cook CEO Also Meets with Prime Ministers of Finland, Spain, and Croatia
▲Team Cook Apple CEO (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump meet for breakfast at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF, Davos Forum). The photo shows Trump and CEO Cook meeting last November at the Apple Mac Pro production plant in Austin, Texas. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to meet with President Donald Trump in Davos. This meeting draws attention as it is their first encounter following Trump’s public criticism of Apple on Twitter regarding the investigation of the recent shooting incident at the Pensacola Navy Base in Florida, accusing Apple of non-cooperation.
According to Bloomberg News, Tim Cook, who is visiting Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF, Davos Forum), will have breakfast with President Trump on the 22nd local time.
The meeting between CEO Cook and President Trump is attracting attention amid controversies surrounding Apple. During the investigation of the Pensacola Navy Base shooting, it was necessary to examine the perpetrator’s iPhone, but Apple refused to provide the password information that could unlock the device. On the 14th (local time), President Trump criticized on Twitter, "We have always helped Apple on trade and other issues, but Apple refuses to unlock iPhones used in murders, drug trafficking, and other violent crimes." Coincidentally, on the same day, U.S. media reported that two years ago, when the FBI protested that Apple’s encryption plan could hinder investigations, Apple withdrew its initial plan to encrypt all data.
There is also an interpretation that Apple urgently needs President Trump’s help regarding the 'digital tax' being pushed among EU countries.
Currently, Apple is surrounded by negative external factors. France, along with the UK, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Austria, have shown movements to impose a digital tax starting this year. The day before, President Trump agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron to postpone tariffs for one year, acting as a shield for American IT companies including Apple.
Apple and President Trump have maintained a 'love-hate relationship,' oscillating between cold and warm interactions. CEO Cook and President Trump have often clashed over issues such as protectionism and climate change, but at critical moments, they have acted as a team and played 'team play.' Last year, when CEO Cook complained about the difficulty of competing with Samsung, which does not pay tariffs in the Asian market, President Trump expressed his intention to help Apple secure price competitiveness.
CEO Cook is also reported to have met consecutively with European leaders from Finland, Spain, and Croatia in Davos.
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