Latest news with #iPhone-maker
Euractiv
5 hours ago
- Business
- Euractiv
UK competition watchdog eyes special abuse control regime for Apple, Google
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a preliminary decision to designate mobile platform giants Apple and Google with "strategic market status", meaning they would become subject to special abuse controls by the UK regulator – in a similar approach to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). On Wednesday, the CMA announced that it's proposing to designate the two tech giants – saying that it had found 90-100% of mobile devices in the UK run on either Apple- or Google-owned mobile platforms, making the pair "an effective duopoly". A "strategic market status" designation on Apple and Google would unlock bespoke powers for the CMA's Digital Markets Unit to tackle platform-specific competition risks, with the wider goal of boosting the UK's app economy. The CMA has a number of concerns about Apple and Google's platforms, including restrictions placed on app developers' ability to steer consumers to offers outside the tech giants' own app stores – an issue which led the EU's executive to slap the iPhone-maker with a €500 million fine under the bloc's DMA earlier this year. It also said it wants to investigate restrictions the two companies' platforms put on developers' access to "features and functionality". Under the EU's DMA, Apple and Google's app stores are both designated as "core platform services" – meaning the app marketplaces are subject to an up-front list of obligations and prohibitions, such the DMA's ban on gatekeepers' self-preferencing. Apple has already been fined in relation to anti-steering under the DMA. Since March it has also been in talks with the Commission about implementing interoperability features to comply with the pan-EU law. Google, meanwhile, was also found by the Commission to have violated the DMA's rules on steering in relation to its Play Store – although it has yet to receive a fine. "Time is of the essence: as competition agencies and courts globally take action in these markets, it's essential the UK doesn't fall behind," said Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, in a statement. Also today, the UK watchdog published separate roadmaps for actions the two mobile giants could take to improve competition – and avoid the risk of future enforcement – outlining measures focused on areas including interoperability, AI services, and consumer choice. A final decision by the CMA on whether to designate Apple and Google with "strategic market status" will be taken by 22 October. (nl)
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Coalition discuss NDP review spending allocations
Coalition leaders met last night to finalise additional spending allocations for the Review of the National Development Plan. The plan, due to be announced on Tuesday, will contain spending of €97bn between 2026 and 2030. That includes an additional €20bn of new funding which has been financed by the sale of AIB shares and back-tax paid by iPhone-maker Apple. The meeting last night was attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister for State Sean Canney, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe. The review will contain spending on housing, water, energy and transport. Next week Minister Chambers will tell Cabinet colleagues that there is uncertainty around global trade and that the threat of tariffs by US President Donald Trump poses "significant risk". He will say that the best way to safeguard the economy and increase competitiveness is to address the country's infrastructure deficits. Uisce Éireann has said it needs an additional €2bn on top of €10.3bn already allocated for capital spending. ESB Networks says it needs an additional €1bn in equity as part of its €13.4bn spending plan. It is understood there will also be funding for Eirgird, the body which operates the electricity grid. Tuesday's publication will set out departmental capital ceilings up to 2030 and overall capital investment until 2035. Government Ministers will outline the specific programmes and investment they will prioritise as part of Budget 2026 in October. The publication of the review follows weeks of bilateral meetings and engagements between different Government departments and Minister Chambers' Department of Public Expenditure, as well as a public consultation. Ministers will also be briefed on work being progressed to reform the country's delivery systems so that project life cycles can be reduced and better value for money can be achieved.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Government gets 'SOS call' from trade body on China's 'Leave India' order to engineers and technicians, what the letter says
India's electronics industry has reportedly raised a red flag over what it describes as "informal trade restrictions" imposed by China. The industry warns that the covert measures being used by China could cripple India's global competitiveness and jeopardize its ambitious $32 billion smartphone export target for the current fiscal year. According to a report in Economic Times, industry views China's actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine India's emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse. In a recent letter to the government, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the industry body representing major players like Apple, Google, Motorola, Foxconn, Vivo, Oppo, Lava, Dixon, Flex, and Tata Electronics, wrote that China's actions are "solely aimed at crippling India's supply chains and undermining its rise as a global manufacturing hub." The curbs, the ICEA highlighted, are already causing significant delays and inflating costs for manufacturers. The SOS letter has urged the Indian government to urgently intervene regarding China's latest controls on capital equipment, critical minerals, and the movement of skilled technical personnel. Crucially, the ICEA emphasized that these restrictions are being enforced in a "planned, sequential manner without any formal notifications, and only through verbal instructions." "While domestic production remains relatively insulated for now, export-linked manufacturing to the tune of $24 billion in FY25, projected to cross $32 billion in FY26 in smartphones has now come under serious risk," the ICEA warned in its letter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo China's 'Leave India' Diktat to Chinese engineers Recently, there have been reports that China asked all Chinese engineers and technicians at Foxconn plants in India to leave the country. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple's largest iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, has recalled over 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from its Indian production facilities, creating significant operational challenges as the iPhone-maker prepares for iPhone 17 manufacturing. The mass withdrawal, which began two months ago, reportedly leaves only Taiwanese support staff at Foxconn's India plants. A large part of mobile phone manufacturing equipment is imported from China, and Chinese professionals have the expertise to operate it. Government on Chinese engineers leaving iPhone maker Foxconn's plant According to a report by the news agency PTI, the government has stated that it's monitoring production targets and believes Apple has alternatives to manage any related issues. In a statement, a government source told the news agency: "Government is monitoring the situation. Apple has alternatives and they should be able to look at ways to handle this. Issue is primarily between Apple and Foxconn. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economist
6 days ago
- Business
- Economist
America throws big money at a small rare-earths mine
Not since the first world war, when America's government nationalised the railroad system, has it made the kind of investment it announced on July 10th. For $400m, the Department of Defence acquired a 15% stake in MP Materials, making it the largest shareholder in the country's sole producer of rare-earth metals. The money will allow the business, with operations including a mine in California and a factory in Texas, to dramatically increase production of the magnets needed for fighter jets, electric vehicles, smartphones and more. On July 15th Apple, the iPhone-maker, joined in with a $500m deal to buy magnets from the company and help build a rare-earth recycling facility.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Apple set a new 'iPhone manufacturing record' in India in the first six months of 2025: Trump Tariffs, fears and ...
Apple has reportedly set a new milestone in India in the first six months of 2025. According to a report in Economic Times, the iPhone-maker has reportedly achieved the fastest ramp-up in iPhone production and exports from India in the first half of 2025 ever since it started smartphone assembly in the country in 2017. The move is said to be an attempt on Apple's part to diversify global production amid threat of higher US tariffs on Chinese imports. Quoting market researcher Canalys, the report said that iPhone production in India surged 53% on-year during the January to June period, reaching 23.9 million units. As per research firm Cybermedia Research (CMR), iPhone export volumes touched 22.88 million units in H1 2025, from 15.05 million a year earlier, an increase of 52%. In value terms, Apple exported $22.56 billion worth of iPhones from India in the first half of 2025, compared to $14.71 billion a year earlier as per CMR. "This shift reflects improving yield rates, line maturity, and Apple's growing confidence in India as a core manufacturing base," said Sanyam Chaurasia, analyst, Canalys. Donald Trump's 25% tariff threat to Apple Apple also faces a significant challenge in India as President Trump has warned the company about imposing 25% tariff on imported iPhones if they are not manufactured within US borders. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote on Truth Social in May. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Freehold Apartments in Dubai Starting from AED 675K Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo When Apple 'flew' 5 flights full of iPhones from India in flat 3 days Apple transported five planes full of iPhones and other products from India to the US in just three days during the final week of March. The urgent shipments were made to avoid a new 10% reciprocal tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump's administration that took effect on April 5. Apple's US warehouses are reportedly stocked for several months ahead with 'made-in-India' iPhones. Analyst said that stockpiling was aimed to allow Apple to maintain current pricing temporarily. 'The reserves that arrived at lower duty will temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments under the revised tax rates,' a source explained to TOI. In May, the US government later declared a 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs for most of its trading partners till July 9, which has since been extended to August 1. For India, the US has proposed a 26% tariff. Biggest iPhone manufacturers in India Foxconn (Hon Hai) and Tata Electronics are the leading manufacturers of iPhones in India. Last year, Tata Electronics took over operations of Wistron and Pegatron plants in the country. Apple iPhone 17 series manufacturing has reportedly started in India Apple is now reportedly planning to undertake simultaneous day-one manufacturing of the upcoming iPhone 17 in China and India. Apple iPhone 17 series is likely set for launch in September. Components for the iPhone 17 are reported to have already started arriving at the Foxconn plant in Tamil Nadu. "While not officially confirmed, the volume and type of these imports make it highly likely that trial production or early-stage assembly has commenced, months ahead of Apple's typical September launch window. This would mark a new benchmark with the earliest ever flagship ramp-up from India," Chaurasia said. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
