Temu tops US iOS downloads for a second year amid greater scrutiny of Chinese companies

Temu, the popular e-commerce app owned by Chinese company PDD Holdings, topped Apple’s list of the most downloaded free apps on the US iOS Store for the second year in a row, highlighting the massive success of Chinese apps in the world’s largest consumer market.

ByteDance’s TikTok came in third place in the ranking despite doubts about its ability to continue operating in the United States, while Temu’s competitor and fast fashion giant Shein came in 12th.

Apple’s iOS represents more than 56% of the U.S. mobile phone market, according to Data From StatCounter.

Temu, which ships cheap goods from China, entered the US market for the first time in 2022. It has revolutionized the market, Apply pressure Current heavyweight Amazon.

However, the Chinese company faces increasing scrutiny from US officials, and risks posed by tariffs that the incoming Trump administration has promised to lift.

In September, the Biden administration announced A New proposal It aims to prevent the “overuse and abuse” of the long-standing “minimum” requirement by companies like Shein and Temu. This provision allows shipments worth less than $800 certain exemptions from import duties.

If Timo and Shen lose their exemption from the minimum, it could lead to higher prices and reduce the competitiveness of Chinese companies. The experts have He told CNBC.

Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House adds another layer of uncertainty as the president-elect has made limiting imports from China a major focus of his campaign. Trump has proposed imposing tariffs of up to 60% to 100% on goods coming from China, although it is unclear whether he will follow through on his threat.

American officials are not the only ones concerned about Chinese imports flooding their domestic markets.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Indonesia have imposed a set of anti-dumping duties on Chinese goodsWhile Thailand recently announced measures to control cheap imports. Earlier this month, Vietnam banned Timo from operating in the country just two months after the Chinese company established a local presence.

In its global outlook report released on Friday, Nomura said its US economic team expects changes to the de minimis rule to be a key trade priority for the Trump administration, perhaps second only to raising tariffs.

“This represents another significant downside risk to China’s exports to the United States in 2025,” the report said.

Nomura Bank estimates that a US ban on all trace imports from China could reduce China’s annual export growth by 1.3% and drag down GDP growth by 0.2%.