A coalition of 48 Chinese developers has lodged an antitrust complaint with the State Administration for Market Regulation, accusing Apple of charging excessive App Store fees and blocking alternative distribution channels and limited options. The group, led by developer Tian Junwei, argues the iOS ecosystem stifles local creators by enforcing a standard 25% commission for developers on paid apps and in‑app purchases, despite recent global fee reductions.

Apple’s recent fee tweaks in Brazil, Japan and the EU aim to comply with local regulations, offering lower rates for eligible developers and allowing external payment links for Chinese payment methods under strict conditions and greater scrutiny. In China, the company cut its baseline commission from 30% to 25% in March, but it still forbids third‑party app stores and alternative payment methods for Chinese users, prompting the complaint.

The filing arrives weeks after Apple unveiled new developer rules in Brazil that differentiate processing fees, core technology commissions and store service charges. Chinese developers fear the same model will cement Apple’s market dominance without real competition. Regulators now face pressure to decide whether the existing 25% rate and closed ecosystem violate China’s antitrust code.