Biden Administration allows US trade tribunal's ban on Apple Watch imports
By Blake Brittain
(Reuters) — U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday declined to veto a government tribunal's decision to ban imports of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Watches based on a complaint from medical monitoring technology company Masimo (NASDAQ:MASI).
The U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) order will go into effect on Dec. 26, barring imports and sales of Apple Watches that use patent-infringing technology for reading blood-oxygen levels. Apple has included the pulse oximeter feature in its smart watches starting with its Series 6 model in 2020.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to reverse the ban following careful consultations, and the ITC's decision became final on Dec. 26, the Trade Representative's office said Tuesday.
Representatives for Apple and Masimo did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Apple can appeal the ban to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The company has paused the sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the United States since last week. The ban does not affect Apple Watch SE, a less expensive model, which will continue to be sold. Previously sold watches will not be affected by the ban.
Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology and incorporating it into the popular Apple Watch.
A jury trial on Masimo's allegations in California federal court ended with a mistrial in May. Apple has separately sued Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware and has called Masimo's legal actions a «maneuver to clear a path» for its own competing smart watch.
A presidential administration has not vetoed an ITC ruling since 2013, when President Barack Obama's
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