Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, didn’t hold back during a Thursday appearance, where he took a strong stance against Apple, accusing the tech giant of benefiting from forced labor in China. His remarks were part of a broader discussion on how companies that rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing should be taxed differently.
While Vance clarified that he doesn’t consider Apple an “evil company,” he expressed concern about their manufacturing practices, particularly regarding labor conditions. "Do I think that sometimes they benefit from Chinese slave labor? Yeah, and that’s pretty sick,” Vance remarked. He emphasized that any company enjoying the benefits of the American market should, in turn, compensate American workers fairly. In 2022, Apple raised the starting wage for its retail employees to $22 an hour, an effort to address concerns around fair compensation.
Apple, however, has previously maintained that it has found no evidence of forced labor within its supply chain. In 2021, the company was urged by former chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China to collaborate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure its supply chain was free from forced labor practices. Despite Vance’s criticism, Apple has remained committed to diversifying its manufacturing operations outside China. In recent years, Apple has made significant moves to shift production to countries like India and Vietnam, producing $14 billion worth of iPhones in India over the last fiscal year alone.
Vance also used the platform to express his support for raising tariffs on companies that outsource jobs, aligning with former President Donald Trump's stance on imposing hefty tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump has threatened additional tariffs ranging from 60% to 100% on products from China, along with a blanket tariff of 10% to 20% on all imported goods.
In addition to targeting Apple's practices, Vance also backed Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan’s tough approach on antitrust policies and voiced his disapproval of large tech companies like Meta and Google, particularly when it comes to their influence over free speech. “When you have companies like Facebook and Google censoring American citizens, making it harder for Americans to speak in their own political process, that is a major problem,” he said, pushing for an antitrust solution.
As part of his ongoing efforts, Vance is set to headline two fundraising events in New York City, where supporters in the financial sector are expected to raise over $1 million each for Trump’s presidential campaign.
Vance's remarks have sparked conversation around the ethical responsibilities of tech companies in global supply chains and the political implications of U.S.-China relations, especially as companies like Apple navigate a shifting landscape of production and trade.
