China Targets U.S. Tech Giants with Antitrust Probes Amid Trade Tensions

Apple, Google, and others face scrutiny from Chinese regulators as trade disputes escalate following new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an antitrust investigation into Google's operations, with analysts speculating the focus may be on its Android operating system.
Apple is under consideration for an antitrust probe into its App Store policies, including its 30% fee on in-app purchases and restrictions on third-party payment services.
Shares of Apple dropped by over 2% following reports of the potential investigation, adding to the company's challenges in China, where it has lost market share to domestic competitors like Huawei and Vivo.
Two other U.S. companies, Illumina and PVH Corp., were added to China's 'unreliable entity' list, signaling potential future sanctions but with no immediate penalties announced.
These actions by China come as a response to new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, highlighting escalating trade tensions and the increasing targeting of major U.S. tech firms in the geopolitical dispute.