MEME – China Bans Government Purchases Of Apple Products

Is it true, or is it not true? Do a Google search on “China Bans Apple” and be prepared to be blown away from the number of stories out there with all kinds of speculation and hysteria that somehow, tensions are rising, China is weary of foreign products infiltrating the nation without controls, and in particular that the US might be gaining too much influence.

This is the government perspective, not the consumers. However, past campaigns by the government have swayed people’s opinion and perception of foreign products over time, and can materially affect sales. There is no such campaign in place against Apple right now.

Ten Apple products — including the iPad, iPad Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro — were omitted from a final government procurement list distributed in July, according to officials who read it and asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. 
SOURCE Bloomberg

Some of these reports suggest it’s about energy saving compliance, others suggest that Apple products are a security risk. When the fact is, none of these things are mentioned in the procurement report…in fact nothing is mentioned in the procurement report…it is simply an omission of Apple products, along with a long list of other products omitted.

This report is not a decree that Apple products are banned…in fact Apple products can still be purchased so long as fair bidding practices are employed. What we have here is nothing more than Fear Uncertainty and Doubt (F.U.D.) run amuck.