Apple says the Mac Pro will be made in America

Just after US trade regulators approved tariff exemptions for Apple, meaning that it could manufacture products abroad and import them without huge financial penalties, the company has announced that it will be making the Mac Pro in Austin, Texas.

Apple says that the decision to produce the redesigned Mac Pro in the US is "part of its commitment to US economic growth".

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In reality, little is changing. As Apple itself points out, "this latest generation Mac Pro, which was unveiled at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June, will begin production soon at the same Austin facility where Mac Pro has been made since 2013".

Apple is eager to stress not only that the computer will be produced in America, but also that many other US companies will be involved and will therefore benefit. With more than a slight air of flag-waving patriotism, the company says:

The new Mac Pro will include components designed, developed and manufactured by more than a dozen American companies for distribution to US customers. Manufacturers and suppliers across Arizona, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Vermont, including Intersil and ON Semiconductor, are providing advanced technology. The US manufacturing of Mac Pro is made possible following a federal product exclusion Apple is receiving for certain necessary components. The value of American-made components in the new Mac Pro is 2.5 times greater than in Apple's previous generation Mac Pro.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook adds: "We believe deeply in the power of American innovation. That's why every Apple product is designed and engineered in the US, and made up of parts from 36 states, supporting 450,000 jobs with US suppliers, and we’re going to continue growing here".

While the company may be fighting a hefty European tax bill at the moment, it waxes lyrical about the impact it is making on its home country:

Apple is on track to fulfill its commitment to invest $350 billion in the US economy by 2023. Last year alone, the company spent over $60 billion with more than 9,000 domestic suppliers across the country, including at manufacturing locations in 36 states. Apple's investment in innovation supports 2.4 million jobs in all 50 states, including 90,000 direct employees. Last week, Apple announced it is awarding $250 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to Corning Incorporated, supplier of precision glass for iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. To date, Apple has invested over $1 billion in American companies from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund -- deploying the entire $1 billion initial investment and 20 percent of the $5 billion it subsequently committed to spend. In December, Apple announced plans to expand its presence in Austin and a dozen other cities across the country, including San Diego and Seattle.

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