Trump links China talks with Hong Kong protests, spoke to Apple CEO about China tarrifs

Reuters - As hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters rallied peacefully in Hong Kong on Sunday (August 18), U.S. President Donald Trump drew parallels between the violent protests in Hong Kong and Beijing's bloody suppression of student-led pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in New Jersey, Trump added that he supported liberty and democracy in Hong Kong and said that he hoped the situation would be resolved in a "humanitarian" fashion, linking the situation with ongoing trade talks. The protests present one of the biggest challenges for Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012, with the ruling Communist Party preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on Oct. 1. Trump also said that he has spoken with Apple Inc's Chief Executive Tim Cook about the impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports as well as competition from South Korean company Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. Trump said Cook "made a good case" that tariffs could hurt Apple given that Samsung's products would not be subject to those same tariffs. Tariffs on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, including consumer electronics, are scheduled to go into effect in two stages on Sept. 1 and Dec. 15. "I thought he made a very compelling argument, so I'm thinking about it," Trump said. Apple was not immediately available for comment outside normal business hours.