Following the investigation launched by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation against Google on Tuesday, there are reports that Apple may also be investigated.
Apple’s stock fell more than 3% in pre-market trading.
According to Bloomberg, China’s antitrust agency is reportedly conducting preliminary work to prepare for a possible investigation into Apple’s policies and its charges to app developers.
Insiders say that the State Administration for Market Regulation is reviewing some of Apple’s policies, including a commission of up to 30% on app revenue and the prohibition of external payment methods. They indicated that since last year, officials from the administration have been in contact with Apple and app developers. Due to the confidential nature of the information, the insiders requested anonymity.
Apple has had disagreements with app developers such as Tencent and ByteDance regarding operations in the iOS App Store, a situation that is also present in other regions globally. Since 2024, China has taken actions against some U.S. tech companies, including Nvidia and Google, but discussions with Apple are still ongoing. If current communications progress smoothly, regulators may not formally investigate Apple.
The scrutiny of some of Apple’s practices began before Trump started his second presidential term, but it comes at a time when trade disputes between China and the U.S. are resurfacing, potentially leading to a global trade war.
Insiders state that Chinese regulators believe Apple may be charging unreasonable high fees to Chinese app developers. Additionally, the prohibition of third-party app stores and payment methods limits competition and harms the rights of Chinese consumers. They indicated that if Apple refuses to make adjustments, China may formally investigate the company. A spokesperson for Apple did not respond to a request for comment. The State Administration for Market Regulation did not immediately respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment
