Since the International Trade Commission’s import ban has been finalized, Apple will no longer be able to officially sell the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the USA. The Biden administration announced this morning that it would not veto the ban.

The United States Trade Representative’s office said it decided not to overturn the ITC’s decision after “careful consultation.”

“On October 26, 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission found that Apple Inc. infringed two patents owned by Masimo Corporation and Cercacor Laboratories, Inc., both located in the United States. Since 2005, the United States Trade “The Office of the Representative hereby delegates to the President the authority to review ITC decisions within 60 days, pursuant to Article 337 of the Commercial Code of 1930. After careful consultation, Ambassador Tai decided not to reverse the ITC’s decision, and the ITC’s decision became final on December 26, 2023.”

Statement from Apple Reuters He said they are “taking every step” to bring the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 back to store shelves as soon as possible.

Apple has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington and is working on a software solution it hopes will allow sales to resume.

Currently, the “Apple Watch Series 9” and “Apple Watch Ultra 2” cannot be sold by Apple in the United States because the ITC ruled that the devices infringe on blood oxygen monitoring technology owned by medical device company Masimo.

The ban is limited to Apple Watch models with a blood oxygen sensor, so the Apple Watch SE is still on sale. Also valid only at Apple retail stores in the United States; Therefore, all Apple Watch models are available in other countries. Stores like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart can continue to sell the Apple Watch while supplies last, but Apple can’t bring any more products into the United States from abroad.

Apple will not be able to sell the “Apple Watch Series 9” or “Apple Watch Ultra 2” models unless the appeal is successful, resolves the lawsuit with Masimo, or finds a way to modify the blood oxygen sensor so that it does not use Masimo’s proprietary product. technology.