Apple delays Apple Intelligence rollout in China due to Trump-era trade tensions

China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) is reportedly holding back the launch of Apple Intelligence and similar AI services by U.S. companies, according to the Financial Times.

Both Apple and Alibaba filed for approval of their AI features back in February 2025, with Apple’s system expected to be powered by Alibaba’s language model. However, the Chinese regulator has yet to respond to the submission.

One source told FT that the CAC has intentionally slowed approvals for U.S.-linked AI services — particularly in response to ongoing trade tensions. Meanwhile, the agency has already approved over 300 AI models developed domestically.

The delay presents new challenges for Apple, which is already under pressure from local competitors including Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. The company’s market share in China dropped to 47% in 2025, down from 70% in 2023.