TMTPOST -- More U.S. tech heavyweights could be China ’ s target in response to the Trump administration ’ s new round of trade war. The new potential target is Apple Inc.  

Credit：Apple CEO Tim Cook Weibo Account

Chinese watchdogs are considering whether to open a formal investigation into Apple ’ s policies and App Store fees it charges developers, Bloomberg cited people with knowledge of the matter. The State Administration for Market Regulation ( SAMR ) is reported to be examining the iPhone maker ’ s policies, which include an up to 30% fee for in-app purchases and barring external payment services and stores and officials have contacted executives of the company and app developers since last year.

Though the reported examination started before U.S. President Donald Trump returned White House, it now collides with the first volleys in the latest U.S.-China trade war. China announced Tuesday a series of tit-for-tat moves the same day that addional U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods entered effect. The SAMR, the country ’ s top market regulator, that day said that it has launched an investigation into Google for suspected violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.  

Following announcement of the antitrust probe into Google, the Financial Times reported China is weighing launch of a similar probe against Intel Corporation. The U.K. newspaper also said China reopened a long-dormant antitrust probe into Google in December, ahead of President Trump ’ s inauguration.

The investigation into Google   focuses on its Android operating system and whether it unfairly disadvantages Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Oppo   and Xiaomi, which rely on Google ’ s software for their devices. Regulators are scrutinizing whether Google ’ s market dominance harms these companies. This investigation, initially launched in 2019 but paused, was resumed in December, and the SAMR   officials visited Google ’ s Beijing office in January.

Apple didn ’ t comment on the reported possible investigation. If it is accurate, the Cupertino giant is facing more uncertainties amid increasing China-U.S. tensions at a tough time, in which its sales in China unexpectedly shed 11% during the holiday season. That was the steepest decline since the quarter ended December 2023. The underdeliver was driven by a decline in iPhone sales, highlighting stiff competition in the world ’ s largest smartphone market and absence of the company ’ s much-touted Apple Intelligence platform.

Apple CEO Tim Cook at an earnings conference admitted intense competition in China, describing it as " the most competitive market in the world. "   He told analysts about   half of the decline in revenue   was driven by change in channel inventory, which resulted from misreading demand in the country. Channel refers to companies including wireless carries and retailers that sell Apple devices.

Cook noted significance of Apple Intelligence, Apple ’ s advanced personal artificial intelligence ( AI ) system that powers latest iPhone 16 series. Apple found the YoY performance on the iPhone 16 family in the markets that   it   had rolled out   Apple intelligence   was stronger than than markets it   hadn't rolled out in, Cook said.

Apple Intelligence are now available in U.S. and six other countries for English version, and Apple said it will release a simplified Chinese version in April. But it ’ s still unclear when Apple Intelligence can be available for users in China   for Apple has to obtain regulatory approval for launch of the AI software.

Cook told CNBC Apple is going through the regulatory process in China and " nothing is certain "   until it gets through the process. He confirmed Apple is looking for local partners to offer AI services since OpenAI ’ s ChatGPT and other Western AI models aren ’ t available in China.欧洲杯体育