Apple Faces New Antitrust Complaint in China Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions

Chinese lawyer Wang Qiongfei has filed a new antitrust complaint against Apple, accusing the tech giant of monopolistic practices in its App Store operations. The lawsuit alleges three violations of China's Anti-Monopoly Law: restricting downloads to the App Store, mandating use of its In-App Purchase system, and imposing unfair commission fees.

This marks Wang's second legal challenge against Apple. His 2021 case was dismissed by a Shanghai court but remains under appeal with China's Supreme People's Court. The new complaint comes as U.S.-China trade tensions escalate, with regulators increasingly scrutinizing American tech firms.

Apple's ecosystem policies face growing global scrutiny. While the company has allowed alternative payment systems in the EU and U.S. following regulatory pressure, it maintains restrictive practices in China. Critics argue these policies inflate costs for millions of Chinese consumers dependent on Apple devices.