Apple reportedly told suppliers to avoid 'Made in Taiwan' labels on shipments to China

Apple reportedly warned Taiwanese suppliers to ensure shipments to China adhere to long-standing labeling regulations following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taipei. According to Nikkei (via The Guardian), the company recently told manufacturers on the island that parts bound for the mainland should say "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan, China" as their origin.

This is in line with a policy China has had in place for years, but only began to be enforced after tensions erupted with the United States following Pelosi's visit last week. Under this policy, officials may delay and even reject shipments marked "Made in Taiwan." The self-governing island has its own set of labeling rules. Shipments must indicate "Taiwan" or "Republic of China" as the point of origin.

Apple did not immediately respond to Engadget's request for comment. The tech giant and many other American companies have a complicated relationship with China. If the report is accurate, it wouldn't be the first time Apple has sought to appease the Chinese Communist Party. In 2019, the company removed the Taiwan flag emoji from iOS in Hong Kong amid pro-democracy protests in the city that year.

In this case, Apple may have felt it had no choice but to comply with China's policy on Taiwanese shipments. In April, Tim Cook said semiconductor shortages had had a significant impact on the company's iPad business. Ahead of its iPhone 14 launch later this year, further delays due to a customs dispute would likely spell disaster for Apple.

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