China’s antitrust regulator is reportedly preparing for a potential investigation into Apple’s App Store policies and commission fees, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The development comes just a day after China announced measures targeting U.S. companies, including Google, farm equipment manufacturers, and the owner of fashion brand Calvin Klein. The move followed the implementation of new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is reviewing Apple’s policies, including its commission of up to 30% on in-app purchases and restrictions on external payment services and alternative app stores, according to the report.
Following the news, Apple’s shares fell 2.6% in U.S. premarket trading.
Chinese regulators have reportedly been in discussions with Apple executives and app developers since last year, exploring concerns related to competition and market dominance.
On Tuesday, SAMR also announced an antitrust probe into Google, alleging the company may have violated China’s anti-monopoly laws. While details were scarce, an article published in the state-run People’s Daily by Tsinghua University professor Zhang Chenying suggested the probe might be linked to Google’s dominance in the Android operating system market.
She claimed Google had imposed technical and business restrictions on Chinese mobile manufacturers, though she did not cite sources for her claims.
In a separate move, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed PVH Corp, the holding company for brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and U.S. biotechnology firm Illumina on its “unreliable entity” list. The designation could impose restrictions on their operations in China as tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to escalate.
