Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared at a company event in China on Wednesday, following the recent reduction in App Store fees for developers in the country earlier this month.
He attended a celebration at an Apple Store in Chengdu, the southwestern Chinese city, to mark the company’s 50th anniversary, according to a post from the municipal government on WeChat.
The US company said last week that its typical commission on purchases will drop to 25% from 30% for its mainland China App Store, a major concession in a hugely lucrative market where the company faced the risk of antitrust intervention by local regulators.
The move is effective March 15 and applies to apps for both iOS and iPadOS, Apple said on its developer website, noting the shift follows “discussions with the Chinese regulator.”
After the announcement, Chinese ruling party’s flagship newspaper called for Apple to further ease App Store restrictions and fix “monopolistic” practices. The frank editorial underscored how Apple, which has clashed with Tencent Holdings Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. over its iOS App Store policies, may continue to face pressure from Beijing.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote just yesterday:
Cook’s going to need to schedule yet another CCP kowtow tour (and further accelerate assembly in India) ASAP!
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