PDD’s Temu app tops U.S. iOS downloads for second year running amid greater scrutiny of China companies

PDD’s Temu app tops U.S. iOS downloads for second year running amid greater scrutiny of China companies


Jaque Silva | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Temu, the popular e-commerce app owned by China’s PDD Holdings, topped Apple’s list of the most downloaded free apps on its U.S. iOS store for the second year running, highlighting the massive success that Chinese apps are enjoying in the world’s largest consumer market.

ByteDance’s TikTok came in third in the ranking despite doubts over its ability to continue operating in the U.S., while Temu-competitor and fast-fashion giant Shein came in at number 12.

Apple’s iOS accounts for over 56% of U.S. mobile phone market, according to data from StatCounter.

Temu, which ships cheap goods from China, first entered the U.S. market in 2022. It has taken the market by storm, putting pressure on incumbent heavyweight Amazon.

The Chinese company, however, faces increased scrutiny from U.S. officials, and risks posed by tariffs which the incoming Trump administration has promised to raise.

Regulatory scrutiny, tariffs risks

As the likes of Temu and Shein attract American consumers with cheap goods and aggressive advertising, they have also caught the attention of Washington. 

In September, the Biden administration announced a new proposal aimed at blocking the “overuse and abuse” of the long-standing “de minimis” provision by companies such as Shein and Temu. The provision allows shipments valued under $800 certain import duty exemptions. 

If Temu and Shein were to lose their de minimis exemption, it could push up prices and reduce the Chinese companies’ competitiveness, experts have told CNBC.

Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House adds another layer of uncertainty as the president-elect made curbing imports from China a major focus of his campaign. Trump has proposed tariffs as high as 60% to 100% on goods from China, although it is unclear whether he will carry out his threat.

U.S. officials are not the only ones concerned about Chinese imports flooding their domestic markets.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Indonesia have imposed a range of anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese goods, while Thailand recently announced measures to monitor cheap imports. Earlier this month, Vietnam banned Temu from operating in the country just two months after the Chinese company set up a local presence.

In a global outlook report released Friday, Nomura said that 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 hiking tariffs. 

“This represents another major downside risk to China’s exports to the U.S. in 2025,” the report said.

Nomura estimates a U.S. ban on all de minimis imports from China could reduce the latter’s annual export growth by 1.3% and drag GDP growth down by 0.2%.



Source

Tron’s Justin Sun says he’s buying another 0 million of Trump’s memecoin
Technology

Tron’s Justin Sun says he’s buying another $100 million of Trump’s memecoin

Justin Sun, founder of blockchain platform Tron, poses for a photograph in Hong Kong, May 8, 2020. Calvin Sit | Bloomberg | Getty Images Crypto billionaire Justin Sun is buying another $100 million worth of $TRUMP, doubling his total known stake of digital coins tied to President Donald Trump. Sun, who founded the TRON blockchain […]

Read More
TikTok loses bid to dismiss lawsuit alleging its ‘addictive design’ exploits kids
Technology

TikTok loses bid to dismiss lawsuit alleging its ‘addictive design’ exploits kids

FILE PHOTO: TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022.  Dado Ruvic | Reuters A judge this week rejected TikTok’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit by the state of New Hampshire accusing it of using manipulative design features aimed at children and teens. “The Court’s decision is an important step toward […]

Read More
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang sells more than  million in stock, catches Warren Buffett in net worth
Technology

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang sells more than $36 million in stock, catches Warren Buffett in net worth

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, holds a motherboard as he speaks during the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on June 11, 2025. Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unloaded roughly $36.4 million worth of stock in the leading artificial intelligence chipmaker, […]

Read More