Temu tops iOS downloads in the US for the second time, despite increased attention from Chinese companies
Jaque Silva | Photo only | Getty Images
Temu, the popular e-commerce app from China’s PDD Holdings, has topped Apple’s list of the most downloaded free apps in its US iOS store for the second year in a row, underscoring the enormous success that Chinese apps have had in the largest consumer market in the world.
ByteDance’s TikTok came third in the rankings despite doubts about its ability to continue operating in the US, while Temu competitor and fast fashion giant Shein came in at number 12.
According to this, Apple’s iOS accounts for over 56% of the US mobile phone market Data from StatCounter.
Temu, which ships cheap goods from China, first entered the US market in 2022. It has taken the market by storm, apply pressure reigning heavyweight Amazon.
But the Chinese company faces increased scrutiny from U.S. officials and risks from tariffs that the new Trump administration has promised to increase.
Regulatory control, customs risks
As companies like Temu and Shein lure American consumers with cheap goods and aggressive advertising, they have also attracted the attention of Washington.
In September, the Biden administration announced a new suggestion aimed to prevent the “excessive use and abuse” of the long-standing “de minimis” rule by companies such as Shein and Temu. The provision allows certain import duty exemptions for shipments valued under $800.
If Temu and Shein lose their de minimis exemption, this could drive up prices and harm the competitiveness of Chinese companies. have experts said CNBC.
Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House adds uncertainty as the president-elect has made curbing imports from China a key focus of his campaign. Trump has proposed tariffs of 60% to 100% on goods from China, although it is unclear whether he will follow through on his threat.
U.S. officials aren’t the only ones worried about Chinese imports flooding their domestic markets.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Indonesia have imposed a series of anti-dumping duties on Chinese goodswhile Thailand recently announced measures to monitor cheap imports. earlier this month Vietnam has banned Temu Just two months after establishing a local presence, the Chinese company was forced to cease operations in the country.
In a global outlook report released Friday, Nomura said its U.S. economic team expects changes to the de minimis rule to be a top trade priority for the Trump administration, perhaps second only to increasing tariffs.
“This represents another major downside risk to China’s exports to the US in 2025,” the report said.
Nomura estimates that a U.S. ban on all de minimis imports from China could reduce its annual export growth by 1.3% and reduce GDP growth by 0.2%.
