The recent US ban on Apple Watch imports will remain in place after the Biden administration He refused to use the veto Previous decision of the International Trade Commission. The ITC ruling comes into effect today.
The company had previously halted sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, in anticipation of the ban, and temporarily halted online sales on December 21 and in-store sales three days later.
A statement issued this morning by the Office of the United States Trade Representative said: “After careful consultation, His Excellency Amb [Katherine] Tai decided not to reverse the ITC decision and the ITC decision became final on December 26, 2023.
Apple has strongly refuted the patent infringement allegations behind the ban, made by health tech company Masimo. In a statement provided to TechCrunch, Apple touts the device’s healthcare features, while promising to continue fighting the decision:
At Apple, we work tirelessly to create products and services that meaningfully impact users’ lives. That’s why our teams — clinical, design, and engineering — devote years to developing scientifically validated health, fitness and wellness features for Apple Watch, and we’re inspired that millions of people around the world have benefited so much from this product. We strongly disagree with the USITC’s decision and resulting exclusion order, and are taking every action to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible.
Apple also appealed the decision to the Federal Circuit Court. The decision stems from the light-based pulse oximetry sensor introduced in the Watch Series 6, in 2020. Masimo has also accused Apple of poaching employees in an attempt to bring the technology to its smartwatch line.
In a statement issued shortly after the ITC decision in October, Joe Kiani, founder and CEO of Masimo, noted, “Today’s ruling by the USITC sends a strong message that even the largest company in the world is not above the law. This important decision is a strong affirmation of our efforts to hold Apple accountable for the illegal misappropriation of our patented technology.
Kayani continued his attack on the company in a series of interviews over the past few weeks.
Although currently banned in the US, the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are still available for purchase outside the country. Meanwhile, the Watch SE remains on sale in the US, as the more budget-friendly option doesn’t use the same sensor technology.