China’s Apple iPhone Ban Seems to Be ‘Retaliation,’ US Says

Beijing sees the iPhone as a ‘bargaining chip,’ a way to convince the United States to ease the Trump-era trade tariffs, an economic analyst said.

People walk past an Apple store in Beijing on Dec. 11, 2018. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

The White House on Sept. 13 raised concerns about reports that Beijing ordered civil servants at some government agencies to stop bringing Apple’s iPhones to the offices.

“We’re watching this with concern,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday.