Apple is creating a US technology manufacturing fund with $1 billion: CEO Tim Cook

Apple chief Tim Cook on Wednesday announced Apple is creating a fund to get more people in the US to do “advanced manufacturing,” kicking it off with a billion dollars.
Apple investing in high-tech manufacturing in the United States would come as rare common ground with US President Donald Trump, who hammered away at the theme during his campaign for office last year.
“We are creating an advanced manufacturing fund,” Cook said in an interview broadcast on CNBC.”We are initially putting one billion dollars in the fund.”
Cook pointed out that apple spent more than $50 billion in the US last year buying from suppliers such as Corning Glass, working with developers behind applications for the California company’s devices and more.
Apple has about 80,000 employees in the US and plans to hire thousands more “in the future,” according to Cook.”A company should have values because a company is a collection of people, and people should have values,” Cook said.”One of the thing you should do is give back.”
Apple planned to borrow money for the new fund despite having a fortune in coffers overseas because of the tax hit that the company would suffer if it brought profit home, according to Cook.
And while Cook has been among Silicon Valley stars critical of Trump when it comes to limiting immigration, he endorsed a push for comprehensive tax reform.
“To invest in the US, we have to borrow,” Cook said.”Comprehensive tax reform is so important to this economy.”The first investment of the new fund will be announced later this month, according to Apple.
During a conference call with analysts, Cook said Apple was seeing a “pause” in iPhone purchases that he felt was caused by unconfirmed “reports about future iPhones.”Still, the company contended that iPhone sales were better than it had expected, and skewed toward large-screen iPhone 7 models that have higher margins of profit.
It is a sign of Apple’s success but also a thorny problem: its cash stockpile has hit a staggering $256.8 billion, sparking debate on what do with such massive reserves.
Apple’s quarterly report Tuesday showed its cash holdings — the vast majority held overseas jumped to a sum that tops the entire economic output of Chile.
The tech giant has resisted the idea of bringing the cash home, because of disincentives in the US tax code it allows multinational firms to defer profits while they are held overseas but taxes income at up to 35% when repatriated.