Apple is once again under pressure in China after a group of 48 iOS developers filed a new antitrust complaint with the country’s market regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The move signals that recent adjustments to App Store commissions have not resolved long-standing tensions between Apple and local developers.
The complaint focuses on Apple’s commission structure in China and whether the company is truly offering competitive terms compared to other regions. It also revisits a broader question that has followed Apple for years in the country, how much control the company should have over app distribution and payments on iOS.
In March 2026, Apple reduced its standard App Store commission in mainland China from 30 percent to 25 percent following regulatory discussions. It also lowered subscription renewal rates and reduced fees for eligible developers in its Small Business and Mini Apps Partner programs to 12 percent. Despite these changes, the developers argue that the structure remains too expensive and inconsistent with Apple’s stated commitments to the Chinese market.
The group’s argument is not just about the current rates. It also compares China with other regions where Apple has introduced more flexible policies. In Brazil, for example, Apple has reduced commissions further and allowed alternative app marketplace distribution options with different fee structures. Developers behind the China complaint claim that similar flexibility could reduce effective fees significantly if applied locally.
This is not the first time Apple has faced legal and regulatory scrutiny over App Store practices in China. Over the past decade, multiple complaints and lawsuits have challenged its commission model, app review policies, and control over distribution. While earlier cases have not resulted in major reversals, they have kept regulatory pressure on Apple’s ecosystem strategy in the region.
The current complaint adds to a wider global pattern. Apple continues to face regulatory action in multiple markets over App Store rules, including the European Union, where it has been fined and forced to adjust parts of its business model under digital competition laws. These developments have pushed Apple to introduce region-specific changes, but they have also created uneven policy structures across markets.
China remains one of Apple’s most important App Store regions by revenue, making it central to the company’s services strategy. Apple has previously stated that its global App Store ecosystem generated over $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025, with China accounting for the largest share. That scale is part of why even incremental changes to commission structures continue to attract regulatory and developer attention.
For now, the SAMR has not confirmed whether it will open a formal investigation. Apple has also not issued a public response to the latest complaint. The outcome will depend on how regulators interpret Apple’s recent fee adjustments and whether they consider them sufficient in a market that continues to evolve under tighter digital oversight.
(via the South China Morning Post)
