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Dutch Court Confirms Apple Abused Dominant Market Position in Dating App Case

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A Dutch court has upheld a 2021 ruling by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), confirming that Apple abused its dominant position in the dating app market through restrictive practices imposed via its App Store.

The Rotterdam District Court ruled that Apple was unfairly forcing dating app developers to use its in-app payment system, prohibiting references to alternative payment methods, and charging up to 30% commission (or **15% for smaller developers). These practices, according to the court, violated EU antitrust regulations.

In 2021, ACM had fined Apple €50 million ($58 million) for failing to comply with its order to change these app store policies. Monday’s court decision affirms that the regulator was justified in both its assessment and the penalties it imposed.

Apple announced it will appeal the ruling, defending its policies as protective of user privacy and security. “This ruling undermines the technology and tools we’ve created to benefit developers and protect users’ privacy and security, and we plan to appeal,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.

The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of Apple’s App Store rules, which have come under fire in several jurisdictions for being anti-competitive. It also adds to the pressure from EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is designed to open digital markets and limit the control of dominant platforms.

Apple’s iPhone Sales Lead Chinese Market in May Amid Global Growth, Says Counterpoint Research

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Apple’s iPhone sales surged to the number one position in China in May, marking the company’s strongest two-month global sales growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from Counterpoint Research. The tech giant experienced a 15% year-on-year increase in global iPhone sales during April and May.

This growth was mainly driven by rebounds in Apple’s two largest markets: China and the United States. Counterpoint Research also reported double-digit sales increases in Japan, India, and Middle Eastern markets, further contributing to the positive trend.

Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research, noted that the second-quarter iPhone performance is promising but emphasized that the market dynamics in the U.S. and China remain critical determinants for overall success.

Data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology showed that shipments of foreign-branded phones in China rose slightly to 3.52 million units in April, up from 3.50 million the previous year.

Despite the growth, Apple faces intense competition from Chinese domestic smartphone brands. To remain competitive, the company has implemented price cuts, with Chinese e-commerce platforms offering discounts of up to 2,530 yuan (approximately $351) on the latest iPhone 16 models in May.

Foxconn Sends 97% of India iPhone Exports to U.S. as Apple Navigates Trump’s Tariffs

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Foxconn, Apple’s key contract manufacturer, shipped nearly all of the iPhones exported from India to the United States between March and May 2025, according to customs data reviewed by Reuters. The figure reached 97%, significantly higher than the 2024 average of about 50%, highlighting Apple’s strategic effort to bypass steep U.S. tariffs imposed on imports from China.

During this three-month period, Foxconn exported iPhones worth $3.2 billion from India, with shipments to the U.S. totaling nearly $1 billion in May alone—the second-highest monthly export value on record. Overall, Foxconn’s India-to-U.S. iPhone exports totaled $4.4 billion in the first five months of 2025, already surpassing the entire 2024 value of $3.7 billion.

Apple has been accelerating iPhone production in India as a means to reduce the impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made devices, which Trump’s administration set as high as 55% on some Chinese goods. India faces a baseline 10% tariff and has been negotiating to avoid a 26% “reciprocal” tariff that the U.S. temporarily paused earlier this year.

Despite Apple CEO Tim Cook’s push for expanded production in India, former President Donald Trump criticized the move in May, insisting Apple should manufacture more phones in the U.S. rather than abroad.

Efforts to speed exports include Apple chartering cargo flights transporting billions worth of iPhone models directly to the U.S. and lobbying for faster customs clearance at Chennai airport, a critical hub for iPhone exports in southern India.

Analysts expect “Made-in-India” iPhones to represent 25-30% of global shipments in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, signaling a growing shift in Apple’s supply chain strategy.

Another supplier, Tata Electronics, part of India’s Tata Group, also exports mostly to the U.S., sending about 86% of its iPhone shipments from India there during March and April.

Despite government efforts to promote India as a smartphone manufacturing center, higher component import duties keep production costs relatively elevated compared to other countries. Apple continues to rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, with around 80% of iPhones sold in the U.S. still produced there.