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More Chinese agencies and government-backed firms have reportedly ordered staff to stop bringing iPhones and other foreign devices to work, extending a previous mandate, according to Bloomberg News.
The outlet called it “an unprecedented prohibition that’s likely to block Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics (OTCPK:SSNLF) from parts of the world’s biggest mobile market.”
State firms and government departments across at least eight provinces instructed employees to start carrying local brands, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. That’s a step up from September, when the media outlet reported that a small number of agencies had started telling staff to leave foreign devices at home.
The move coincides with the resurgence in popularity of devices made by Huawei Technologies. Apple (AAPL) shares fell 0.6% after the close on Friday.
In September, Bloomberg reported that China intended to expand a ban on the use of iPhones to several state-backed companies and agencies.
However, China pushed back on reports, as Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in September that it had not issued any laws or regulations to ban the purchase of Apple or foreign branded phones.
Citi previously said any potential ban on government employees using iPhones will barely move the needle. Most of the country’s sales are made to consumers rather than to commercial entities, and government purchases are less than 1% of total iPhone revenue in China.
