The Chinese government has instructed its officials not to use Apple iPhones for official purposes and not to bring them to the office, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal.
This move could potentially have adverse effects on Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 15 series launch, scheduled for less than a week away. The series includes four new phones: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Notably, this directive may also be interpreted as China’s effort to promote the use of domestic brands within the country, a trend that aligns with China’s ambition to reduce reliance on foreign technology. This development coincides with rumors surrounding Chinese tech giant Huawei, which claims to have developed an advanced 7nm chipset for its Mate 60 Pro smartphone, a significant achievement in the face of US restrictions.
These ongoing technology-related restrictions between the US and China could lead to increasingly isolated markets globally, with potential ramifications for international trade and technology competition.