Apple has lost around $200 billion in market capitalization over several days as tensions between the U.S. and China rise, with several media outlets reporting this week that the iPhone maker is being singled out by Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apple shares fell 3% Thursday and are down more than 5% for the week on reports of an iPhone ban for Chinese state employees that is being dictated by Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ban was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed sources saying China is ordering officials at central government agencies not to use iPhones or other foreign branded phones. The Financial Times cited six unnamed sources at government institutions and state-owned companies, including a nuclear technology company and a hospital, saying they\u2019ve been told to stop using Apple phones. The ban widens earlier restrictions on using iPhones for work, the outlets said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeijing is looking to reduce its dependence on U.S. technology, but this (ban) acts as a significant headwind to Apple as China is its largest international market and accounts for about 20% of its revenues,\u201d said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at interactive investor, a U.K. investment platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apple didn\u2019t respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the ban at a daily briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning didn\u2019t comment directly, saying only that \u201cproducts and services from any country are welcome to enter the Chinese market as long as they comply with Chinese laws and regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising and early last month, President Joe Biden\u00a0signed an executive order\u00a0to impose blocks and regulations on U.S. high-tech investment in China, reflecting the intensifying competition between the world\u2019s two largest economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White House officials said Biden, who departed Thursday evening for New Delhi, will use the annual G20 summit as an opportunity for the U.S. to highlight a\u00a0proposition for developing and middle-income countries\u00a0that would increase the lending power of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by some $200 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden seeks to drive home that the United States and its like-minded allies are better economic and security partners than China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reported ban on the iPhone comes at a bad time for Apple, which is gearing up for its latest product launch next Tuesday Sept. 12, when it\u2019s expected to unveil its latest smartphone, the iPhone 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A teaser of the livestream for the event, dubbed \u201cWonderlust,\u201d has been posted on YouTube, revealing no details. Reports are swirling that big changes are in store for the iPhone, including a switch from Apple\u2019s Lightning connector to the USB-C plug that rivals are starting to adopt, partly in response to a European Union mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apple also faces a threat from Chinese tech giant Huawei, which recently launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The phone reportedly has enough power and speed to rival the iPhone and has been selling briskly in China. Huawei has been low key about the device, but its capabilities have raised concerns that China has been able to circumvent U.S. curbs on Huawei that stop it from acquiring high tech components like advanced processor chips that had effectively crippled its smartphone business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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