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Temu, a popular e-commerce app owned by China’s PDD Holdings, topped the list of most downloaded apps in the US iOS Store for the second year running, highlighting the strong success of Chinese apps in the world’s largest consumer market.
ByteDance’s TikTok came in third despite doubts about its ability to continue operating in the US, while rival and fast fashion giant Shein Temu came in at 12th.
Apple’s iOS accounts for more than 56% of the US mobile phone market, according to the data From StatCounter.
Temu, which ships cheap goods from China, first entered the US market in 2022. It has taken the market by storm, putting pressure heavyweight titleholder Amazon.
The Chinese company, however, faces heightened scrutiny from US officials and the risks posed by tariffs that the Trump administration has promised to raise.
Regulatory control, tariff risks
As the likes of Temu and Shein lure American consumers with cheap goods and aggressive advertising, they have also attracted attention in Washington.
In September, the Biden administration a new proposal It aims to block “overuse and abuse” of the longstanding “de minimis” provision by companies like Shein and Temu. The provision allows certain exemptions from import duties for shipments valued at less than $800.
If Temu and Shein lose the de minimis exemption, it could raise prices and reduce the competitiveness of Chinese companies. experts have he told CNBC.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House adds another layer of uncertainty, as the president-elect made curbing imports from China a central 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.
US officials are not the only ones concerned about Chinese imports flooding their domestic markets.
in Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Indonesia have imposed anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese goodsWhile Thailand recently announced measures to control cheap imports. at the beginning of the month Vietnam banned Temu Just two months after the Chinese company established a local presence to operate in the country.
In a global outlook report released Friday, Nomura said its U.S. economics team expects changes to the de minimis rule to be a key trade priority for the Trump administration, perhaps second only to rate hikes.
“This represents another downside risk for China’s exports to the US in 2025,” the report said.
Nomura estimates that a US ban on all de minimis imports from China could reduce the latter’s annual export growth by 1.3% and reduce GDP growth by 0.2%.
