Hundreds of companies in China are reportedly boycotting Apple following the recent arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada.
Chinese Companies Encourage Employees To Buy Huawei Products
Chinese businesses reportedly urge employees to buy Huawei products in support of Huawei by offering subsidies to those who buy the telecom equipment maker's smartphones.
A government official said that several hundred businesses have these programs nationwide. Most companies subsidize 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price but some cover up to the full price of the device.
More than 20 Chinese companies have also publicly showed their support for Huawei, announcing on social media that they will ask increase purchases of other Huawei-made products.
The support comes from a broad range of industries from food to information technology. Businesses also offer incentives to customers who support Huawei.
A brewer in Henan Province offers free alcohol equivalent to 30 percent of the price of the Huawei device to employees and customers who present a receipt.
Shanghai Youluoke Electronic and Technology offers its employees up to two free Huawei phones each, while Shenzhen Yidaheng Technology takes 18 percent of the price of phones from Huawei or ZTE. Fuchun Technology pays employees up to 500 yuan, or around $72.50, with proof of purchase.
Potential Termination For Employees Who Use Apple Products
Some companies have tougher approach essentially threatening to punish employees who use Apple products. A machinery producer in Shenzhen threatened to confiscate Apple devices from employees and potentially terminate those who do not comply with the order to hand their Apple devices over. Others threatened to withhold bonuses of staffers who buy iPhones.
Arrest Of Huawei CFO
The call to support Huawei and boycott Apple products follows the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada. Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was apprehended at the request of the U.S government under the claims that the Chinese telecom company violated U.S. sanctions on the sale of products that feature American technology to Iran.
Meng's arrest happened amid a trade dispute between United States and China. The Trump administration threatened to apply tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods imported from China, with more tariffs to be applied in the future.
