China has banned the use of Apple’s iPhones and other foreign-branded devices by officials at central government agencies. The devices are not to be brought into the office either.
The ban is the most recent escalation of the Sino-U.S. tensions and could rub off on Apple in one of Its biggest markets that generates nearly one-fifth of its revenue.
The ban comes ahead of an Apple (AAPL.O) event next week that analysts believe will be about launching a new line of iPhones.
China has been seeking to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, asking state affiliated firms such as banks to switch to local software and promoting domestic chip manufacturing.
China’s ban mirrors similar bans taken in the United States against Chinese smartphone maker Huawei Technologies and short video platform TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance.
