According to a report from Chinese media outlet Mydrivers, citing Bloomberg, sources indicate that China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is preparing to launch an antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store policies and commission fees.
The probe will scrutinize Apple’s practice of charging up to a 30% commission on in-app purchases in China, as well as its restrictions on external payment services and third-party app stores, as the report notes.
This commission, commonly referred to as the “Apple Tax,” varies across different regions. The report highlights that in the Chinese market, Apple applies the highest-tier commission rates, charging 30% for standard enterprises and 15% for small businesses. In comparison, the rates in the U.S. are slightly lower, at 27% for standard enterprises and 12% for small businesses. In the E.U. market, Apple charges 17% and 10%, respectively, while in South Korea, the rates are 26% and 11% for standard and small enterprises.
Furthermore, the report notes that Apple does not permit app developers in China to conduct external transactions or use third-party payment services. In contrast, developers in regions such as the E.U., the U.S., and South Korea are allowed to do so.
According to Bloomberg, scrutiny of Apple’s App Store policies began well before Trump’s presidency, with long-standing disputes between Apple and major developers such as Tencent and ByteDance over iOS store policies.
Meanwhile, Beijing has been tightening its control over U.S. tech companies. Since 2024, China has launched investigations into multiple American technology giants, ranging from NVIDIA to the most recent probe into Google.
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(Photo credit: Apple)
