Trump’s WeChat Ban Could Hurt iPhone Sales in China
- Used by a billion people, the app is central to digital life
- Forced to choose, one poll showed the contest wasn’t close
The WeChat app is displayed in the Apple App Store.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
President Donald Trump’s order banning U.S. companies from doing business with Chinese messaging app WeChat could damage iPhone sales in one of Apple Inc.’s most important markets.
The order would block all transactions involving WeChat, which would prohibit Apple from distributing WeChat to mobile devices through its App Store. WeChat is central to digital life in China. It’s the go-to app for a billion people for shopping, payments, email, web browsing and all forms of business and personal communications. Many Chinese don’t use phone numbers or emails. Visitors to the country have to download the app and load it with money or risk not being able to pay for even small purchases.