“苹果税”惹反垄断调查：中国iPhone用户每消费100元收30元 | 彭博社

China is reportedly preparing a probe into Apple's app store practices as the latest round of tariffs went into effect this week.

Bloomberg

By Pei Li

Feb 5, 2025 | 603 words | ★★☆☆☆

China’s antitrust watchdog is laying the groundwork for a potential probe into Apple Inc.’s policies and the fees it charges app developers, part of a broader push by Beijing that risks becoming another flashpoint in the country’s trade war with the US.

The State Administration for Market Regulation is examining Apple’s policies, which include taking a cut of as much as 30% on in-app spending and barring external payment services and stores, people familiar with the matter said. Agency officials have spoken with Apple executives and app developers since last year, said the people, who asked for anonymity to discuss sensitive moves.

The conversations stem from long-running disputes between Apple and developers such as Tencent Holdings Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. over iOS store policies — a source of tension between the US company and regulators worldwide. While Beijing has since 2024 targeted the practices of US tech firms from Nvidia Corp. to most recently Alphabet Inc.’s Google, regulators may not formally move against Apple if the current conversations go well.

Though the examination of Apple’s practices began before US President Donald Trump took office, they’re now colliding with a series of tit-for-tat moves between Beijing and the Trump administration, which is threatening to ignite a global trade war. On Tuesday, the watchdog announced a formal probe into Google and allegations of anticompetitive behavior just seconds after new US tariffs on China came into effect.

Chinese regulators believe that Apple may be charging local developers unreasonably high fees, the people said. They think the barring of third-party app stores and payment methods also hinders competition and hurts local consumers, the people said. If Apple resists making changes, the government may launch a formal investigation, the people added.

Apple has long policed its app ecosystem to preserve quality and security around the world. But it’s now in the crosshairs of regulators globally and has had to implement a series of changes to avoid fines and other penalties. Last year, the company revamped its store practices in the European Union to meet the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. That’s led to third-party app marketplaces and outside payment methods.

Still, a crackdown on the Chinese App Store would pose unique challenges.

Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have escalated quickly this year, with Trump slapping 10% tariffs on China days into his second term. Beijing responded with its own tariffs and export restrictions, and began an antitrust investigation into Google.

Apple is one of the most prominent American firms with extensive operations in China, the production base for most of the world’s iPhones. The country is also Apple’s most important market after the US, the world’s biggest arena for smartphones, computing and artificial intelligence.

And Apple is already struggling to hold off local rivals like Huawei Technologies Co. It reported an 11% decline in revenue from China over the holiday quarter.

Last year, a Chinese court agreed to hear a lawsuit filed by a local developer against Apple’s commission-charging practices. The US firm is also embroiled in a prolonged negotiation with Tencent over app store fees that began in 2024.

The US firm has argued that its App Store is the safest way for users to access applications on its devices, and that the fees it charges helps ensure quality.

More broadly, Beijing has wielded its regulatory powers against both domestic and foreign technology companies.

Regulators forced changes on Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. after they came to dominate the country’s tech sector. They also opened a probe into Nvidia in December over suspicions that the US chipmaker broke anti-monopoly laws around a 2020 deal. ■

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