Apple’s Tim Cook visits China as reliance on Chinese supply chains endures

Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off his first tour of China this year on Wednesday, while the iPhone maker’s chief operating officer visited key suppliers, including Foxconn and Sunwoda, in a sign of the company’s continued focus on the country’s huge market and manufacturing ecosystem.

Cook turned up at an Apple Store in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, in the afternoon as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He interacted with celebrities and customers, according to clips circulating on social media.

During his last visit to China in October, Cook met government officials in Beijing and reiterated Apple’s commitment to increasing investment in China amid heightened US-China trade and technology tensions.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Cook’s itinerary.

For the quarter ended December, Apple reported record revenue in Greater China – mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan – of US$25.5 billion, driven by demand for the iPhone 17, according to its earnings statement in January. For 2025, revenue from the region totalled US$71.4 billion, accounting for 16 per cent of the company’s global sales.

Last week, Apple said it would cut App Store commission fees in China, lowering the rate on in-app purchases and paid transactions to 25 per cent from 30 per cent. Fees for developers in its small business and mini-app partner programmes were reduced to 12 per cent from 15 per cent, following regulatory pressure and long-standing complaints from developers.