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66 comentarios Eduardo Archanco@eaala

Great company signs in accordance with a key country, gets things in return.This could be the way to summarize the "secret" agreement between Apple and China revealed by The Information.One in which Apple would have committed to invest 275.000 million dollars in the Asian country in five years (55.000 million dollars annually).

The scandal here comes that some have interpreted the agreement as a simple disbursement of money to the Chinese government.A kind of bribery to senior officials to have permission to operate in the country.The small print, as usually happens in these cases, makes the matter much less striking.

What is the agreement between Apple and China

So it was not a bribe, but investments to obtain something in return: to be able to manufacture and sell products in the country.To do this and according to the article, Apple committed and executed the following:

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Additionally, Apple promised to build more stores in the country.It currently has 50 stores in China, for a total of 504 around the world (271 in the US).He also opened several research centers and made considerable investments in renewable energy.

Apple's agreements with other countries

That a company decides to establish a relationship with an important country for it is something common.Apple herself has signed agreements with other governments, promising investments, changes and work.He did it with Trump himself, when his administration asked American companies to make in the country and did not choose to take the factories out.Apple agreed to make the Mac Pro in the US.In return, Trump prevented Apple products from having tariffs in their commercial war with China.

Other countries such as India have also enjoyed special attention from Apple.The Asian country requires that companies that wish to operate in the country, manufacture part of their products within their borders.Apple agreed with Peteron the manufacture of several iPad and iPhone models.And thanks to that, he opened several official stores.The agreement took years to forge, but it paid off: it allowed Apple to double their sales in India in Q4 of 2020.

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Despite the importance of China as a market and manufacturing center, in Cupertino they know that it is convenient not to have the eggs in the same basket.That is why they asked Foxconn to transfer part of their macbook and iPad to Vietnam production.Something that will undoubtedly be taken into account by the authorities.

The dilemma of dealing with a dictatorial government

It is demonstrated that the agreement with China has nothing exceptional.It is a key country, both for its operations and for market size.And it is logical that a company is interested, signing agreements with its rulers.The problem lies in the Chinese government and its dictatorial regime.It is a country where human rights are not respected and those who defend them are persecuted.

A look at the 2021 Human Rights Watch report highlights the considerable violations of these rights to its citizens.There is no political freedom, of press, expression, religious or sexual.In the case of the Uygures, China has been accused of crimes against humanity.Its arrest in "re-educational" fields, use as forced labor, torture and forced sterilization are habitual accusations to the Chinese government.

Tim Cook con la CEO de Didi, tras la firma del acuerdo de inversión.

What should a company like Apple, who boast of defending the freedom and creativity of its products?Here is a dilemma:

Apple has opted for the first, not only because it makes more sense from the business point of view.But because it is the only dilemma option that provides a long -term path to influence the country.If I chose to close and leave the country, there would be a lot of stir for a few days, I may weeks.Then the silence would happen (and a zero in the results account).

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If Apple had opted for that position during the Trump administration, I would have fought uphill in other issues outside the economics.I would not have so much weight when defending the rights of the dreamers, for example.The result would not have been very intelligent, because the US, for its political system, can suffer changes quickly and in just a few years but, and China?

Decades can pass until significant advances occur in terms of human rights.And this is where the big question is.Will it be so expected?

Compartir Drama en la red: desvelan un acuerdo entre Apple y China de inversión de 275.000 million dollars