China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates: Bloomberg News

More Chinese agencies and state-backed companies across the country have asked their staff to not bring Apple iPhones and other foreign devices to work, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

For more than ten years, China has been actively working to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies, urging state-affiliated entities, including banks, to transition to domestic software and fostering the growth of local semiconductor chip manufacturing. Recent reports from Bloomberg News indicate that numerous state-owned companies and government departments across at least eight provinces have, in the past month or two, directed their employees to exclusively use local brands.

While Apple has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment, this move appears to be part of China's broader strategy to promote and prioritize homegrown technologies. In December, smaller firms and government agencies in lower-tier cities from various provinces, including Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning, and central Hebei (home to the world's largest iPhone factory), issued internal directives encouraging the adoption of local brands.

This development follows a trend observed earlier, as Reuters reported in September that staff in at least three ministries and government bodies were instructed not to use iPhones during work hours. This signals a clear shift in preference toward domestic technology solutions, aligning with China's overarching goal of achieving greater self-sufficiency in the tech sector and reducing reliance on international products.

Despite the potential impact on Apple, one of the world's largest technology companies, there has been only a marginal decrease in its shares, with a reported value of $196.50 in extended trading. The ongoing dynamics between China's push for self-reliance and the global presence of tech giants like Apple will continue to be a noteworthy aspect of the evolving landscape in the technology and business sectors.