Apple CEO Tim Cook talks to an employee at a solar park in Hanstholm, Denmark.
TikTok drama in the US could end up hurting Apple.
  • China's foreign ministry said banning TikTok would "eventually backfire on the US."
  • US tech firms operating in China are already facing a squeeze.
  • China could retaliate against Apple and Tesla via brand damage campaigns or stifling local ops.

A potential TikTok ban in the US could spell trouble for Apple, Tesla, and other American companies operating in China.

The House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese entity within about six months or face a ban from US app stores.