Subject: Re: Tariff exemptions
"I guess Tim Apple has been on the phone with Donald. 😬"

Fotak et al., "The Political Economy of Tariff Exemption Grants", Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, CUP, Jan 2025:

We investigate whether firm-level political connections affect the allocation of exemptions from tariffs imposed on $US 550 billion of Chinese goods imported to the United States annually beginning in 2018. Evidence points to politicians not only rewarding supporters but also punishing opponents: Past campaign contributions to the party controlling (in opposition to) the executive branch increase (decrease) approval likelihood. Our findings point to quid pro quo arrangements between politicians and firms, as opposed to the “information” channel linking political access to regulatory outcomes.

The very public donation to Trump's inaugural committee may have been enough.