Apple Shareholders Reject China Audit as Tim Cook Announces US Production

During its annual shareholder meeting on February 24, 2026, Apple Inc. shareholders rejected multiple proposals seeking greater transparency regarding the company's operations in China. Investors voted down requests for a third-party audit of the China supply chain and a detailed report on the company's manufacturing reliance on the country. The board of directors had advised against these measures, arguing that existing audits were sufficient and that public disclosures could expose proprietary information and damage partnerships in China.

Chief Executive Tim Cook used the meeting to announce that Apple will begin assembling some Mac mini desktop computers at an expanded facility in Houston, Texas, later this year. He also highlighted the expansion of AI server manufacturing in Houston to create thousands of jobs, noting that the company is shifting production to the United States, India, and Vietnam to diversify its supply chain.

Shareholders approved all four of the company's formal proposals, including the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditing firm. Investors also approved executive pay packages, including Cook's 2025 compensation of approximately $74.29 million. However, opposition to the mandatory "say on pay" measure rose to 8.6%, up from 7.6% the previous year. Other defeated proposals concerned artificial intelligence transparency, civil rights audits, and employment concealment clauses.