Apple's CEO Tim Cook joined more than 20 corporate leaders in discussions with China’s premier Monday, as global companies grapple with potential trade disruptions and economic uncertainty, according to Bloomberg.

"Cook, who’s visiting the country for at least the third time this year, joined top executives of global firms including Rio Tinto Plc, Corning Inc. and Charoen Pokphand Group in a meeting with Li Qiang of the Chinese Communist Party, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing a private session.

Disruptions to trade are a source of concern especially for Apple, which makes the majority of its iPhones through Foxconn in the country and counts China its biggest market after the US.

Cook on Monday made it a point to emphasize the importance of the Chinese supply chain during brief remarks carried by a social media account linked to state broadcaster China Central Television. “I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them,” Cook said in response to a question about Apple’s Chinese partners.

The meeting, in which about two dozen executives took part, marked the first high-level meeting between foreign corporations and a senior Beijing official since Donald Trump won a second four-year term. Companies worldwide are bracing for the president-elect’s threat to hike tariffs on Chinese goods. "

With China in alliance with Iran, the largest terrorist regime on the planet, and in alliance with Russia against the United States, it's interesting to see how China's top leaders want American companies to work against their own country. Without China, Apple's market share would collapse. China knows that and is able to squeeze Apple and other U.S. companies to comply with demands from the Chinese Government. Interesting times ahead.