China is investigating Apple for antitrust practices, including high rates on developers and restrictions on external payment methods. This movement occurs amid commercial tensions between China and USA, placing the giant of technology under regulatory pressure
China is preparing the ground for a possible antitrust investigation against Apple, focusing on the company’s policies and the fees it charges from application developers.
According to Bloomberg, this movement is part of a broader Beijing strategy, which can become another point of tension in the trade war between China and the United States.
State Administration of the Market Regulation (SAMR) is analyzing Apple practices, which include charging up to 30% on applications spending and banning the use of payment services and external stores.
Antitrust investigations against Apple in China are one of the company’s biggest concerns today. According to sources close to the matter, Chinese authorities have been talking to Apple executives and APP developers since last year.
These discussions come from old disputes between Apple and giants such as Tencent and Bytedance, which question the policies of the App Store.
Although China has already directed its attention to other US technology companies, such as Nvidia and Google, a formal investigation against Apple can be avoided if current conversations are successful.
Commercial tensions and global impact
Apple’s analysis of practices began before the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, but now clashes with a series of retaliatory measures between Washington and Beijing.
SAMR recently announced a formal investigation against Google for anti -specific behavior, shortly after the imposition of new American tariffs on Chinese products.
Chinese regulators believe Apple may be charging excessive fees of local developers and that the ban on stores and third party payment methods impairs competition and consumers.
Antitrust investigations against Apple in China can be started if the company resists changes.
Challenges in antitrust investigations for Apple
Apple has always defended its application ecosystem as a way to ensure quality and safety. However, the company is under global scrutiny and has already had to adapt its policies in regions such as the European Union, where it has implemented changes to comply with the digital market law.
In China, however, a repression of the App Store would represent unique challenges.
Antitrust investigations against Apple in China are especially complicated because the country is not only the production base of most iPhones, but also the second largest Apple market, behind only the US.
With tensions between the two largest economies in the world intensifying, Apple’s future in China remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the company has not yet commented on the allegations, and Samr did not respond to requests for comments either.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/02/05/china-declara-guerra-em-investigacao-antitruste-contra-apple/
