President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches. The order of import ban has been passed by US International Trade Commission (ITC) following a complaint from Massimo, a medical monitoring tech company. The company has accused Apple of stealing its pulse oximetry technology and hiring away its employees.

ITC's order on import ban has gone into effect on Tuesday (Dec 26). Apple has decided to appeal the ban in US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The tech giant had previously made a request to ITC to pause the ban during the appeal process. The request has been rejected.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinas-ban-on-apples-iphone-accelerates-670281">China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates</a>

After ITC's decision, Apple has paused selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US. However, the watches were on sale on platforms of other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy as of Tuesday.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-samsung-india-now-issues-security-warning-for-users-of-apple-iphone-other-products-670225">After Samsung, India now issues security warnings for users of iPhone, other Apple products</a>

The order does not affect the smartwatches which are already sold. It also does not apply to the sale of Apple Watch SE, which is a less expensive model.

<h2>'Manoeuvre to clear path'</h2>

Apple claims that Masimo's legal action is just a "manoeuvre to clear a path" so that the company can introduce its own smartwatch to compete with Apple.

Apple has also sued Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware.

In the US, a presidential administration has not reversed ITC's ruling since the year 2013. At the time, administration led by president Barack Obama overturned import ban on Apple iPhones during the tech giant's patent dispute with Samsung.

Watch | Report: Apple talking to publishers to develop gen AI systems

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In February this year Biden administration declined to veto import ban on Apple Watches in a separate case. This patent infringement case was brought by medical technology company AliveCor.

Apple's wearables form a sizeable chunk of the company's revenue. As per figures release previously by Apple, the wearables accounted for USD 8.28 billion in revenue in third quarter of 2023 alone.

(With inputs from agencies)

President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches.

President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches. The order of import ban has been passed by US International Trade Commission (ITC) following a complaint from Massimo, a medical monitoring tech company. The company has accused Apple of stealing its pulse oximetry technology and hiring away its employees. ITC's order on import ban has gone into effect on Tuesday (Dec 26). Apple has decided to appeal the ban in US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The tech giant had previously made a request to ITC to pause the ban during the appeal process. The request has been rejected. Also Read | China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates After ITC's decision, Apple has paused selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US. However, the watches were on sale on platforms of other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy as of Tuesday. Also Read | After Samsung, India now issues security warnings for users of iPhone, other Apple products The order does not affect the smartwatches which are already sold. It also does not apply to the sale of Apple Watch SE, which is a less expensive model. 'Manoeuvre to clear path' Apple claims that Masimo's legal action is just a "manoeuvre to clear a path" so that the company can introduce its own smartwatch to compete with Apple. Apple has also sued Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware. In the US, a presidential administration has not reversed ITC's ruling since the year 2013. At the time, administration led by president Barack Obama overturned import ban on Apple iPhones during the tech giant's patent dispute with Samsung. Watch | Report: Apple talking to publishers to develop gen AI systems × In February this year Biden administration declined to veto import ban on Apple Watches in a separate case. This patent infringement case was brought by medical technology company AliveCor. Apple's wearables form a sizeable chunk of the company's revenue. As per figures release previously by Apple, the wearables accounted for USD 8.28 billion in revenue in third quarter of 2023 alone. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden administration allows Apple Watch import ban in US following tribunal ruling

The European Union's top trade officials will update their US counterparts this week on progress in obtaining a negotiating mandate for an EU-US trade deal on industrial goods and raise concern over existing and potential future US tariffs.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom will meet US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on March 6 in Washington and the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Martin Selmayr, will meet the Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow on March 7.

The European Union's executive arm, the European Commission, has the sole responsibility for negotiating trade deals for the whole 28-nation bloc of 513 million people and has been in close discussions with Washington over trade policy since last July to avert the threat of US tariffs on EU cars and car parts.

The European Commission has asked member countries to approve two negotiating mandates so that formal talks can begin. Germany is keen to start quickly, while France is reluctant.

"The discussions will focus on the next steps towards the implementation of the July 2018 Joint Statement and on the EU-US cooperation on World Trade Organisation reform and level playing field issues," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said of this week's talks.

"The Commission will update the US side on the state of play of the adoption of the negotiating mandates for EU-US trade agreements on industrial goods and on conformity assessment," he said.

Rather than negotiating a comprehensive trade deal that could take a very long time, the EU is keen to reach a quicker agreement with the United States on trade in industrial goods alone, excluding agriculture that tends to be more controversial.

This could help resolve the issue of US tariffs on European steel and aluminium and avert the threat of US tariffs on EU-made cars and car parts.

"The Commission will also raise the EU's concerns on the tariffs imposed by the US on steel and aluminium products and on the possible consequences of the recently concluded investigation on whether automobile imports represent a threat to the US' national security," Schinas said.

Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said on Feb. 18 that US tariffs on imports of European cars could mean that Europe would buy fewer soybeans and liquid gas from the United States, imports of which have jumped since July.

The European Union's top trade officials will update their US counterparts this week on progress in obtaining a negotiating mandate for an EU-US trade deal on industrial goods and raise concern over existing and potential future US tariffs.

The European Union's top trade officials will update their US counterparts this week on progress in obtaining a negotiating mandate for an EU-US trade deal on industrial goods and raise concern over existing and potential future US tariffs. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom will meet US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on March 6 in Washington and the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Martin Selmayr, will meet the Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow on March 7. The European Union's executive arm, the European Commission, has the sole responsibility for negotiating trade deals for the whole 28-nation bloc of 513 million people and has been in close discussions with Washington over trade policy since last July to avert the threat of US tariffs on EU cars and car parts. The European Commission has asked member countries to approve two negotiating mandates so that formal talks can begin. Germany is keen to start quickly, while France is reluctant. "The discussions will focus on the next steps towards the implementation of the July 2018 Joint Statement and on the EU-US cooperation on World Trade Organisation reform and level playing field issues," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said of this week's talks. "The Commission will update the US side on the state of play of the adoption of the negotiating mandates for EU-US trade agreements on industrial goods and on conformity assessment," he said. Rather than negotiating a comprehensive trade deal that could take a very long time, the EU is keen to reach a quicker agreement with the United States on trade in industrial goods alone, excluding agriculture that tends to be more controversial. This could help resolve the issue of US tariffs on European steel and aluminium and avert the threat of US tariffs on EU-made cars and car parts. "The Commission will also raise the EU's concerns on the tariffs imposed by the US on steel and aluminium products and on the possible consequences of the recently concluded investigation on whether automobile imports represent a threat to the US' national security," Schinas said. Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said on Feb. 18 that US tariffs on imports of European cars could mean that Europe would buy fewer soybeans and liquid gas from the United States, imports of which have jumped since July.

European Union set for trade talks with US on March 6 amid concern over tariffs

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/without-a-wall-our-country-can-never-have-national-security-says-trump-as-government-shutdown-enters-second-month-192081">United States</a> has rejected Beijing's offer to hold preparatory talks in Washington ahead of next week's high-level trade delegation, according to media reports.

The reports by The Financial Times and CNBC sent US stocks sharply lower, reviving fears that efforts to resolve the US-China trade war could fail.&nbsp;

Citing a lack of progress on some of the thorniest issues in the trade&nbsp;dispute -- including allegedly forced technology transfers and structural reforms to China's economy -- Washington cancelled plans for a face-to-face preparatory meeting this week, according to The Times.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is due to travel to the United States next week as the two sides work to resolve their disagreements by March 1, when a 90-day truce is due to expire, allowing US import duties on Chinese goods to increase sharply.

The US Treasury Department and Office of the US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Chinese economy last year posted its slowest annual growth in nearly three decades, according to official figures published Monday in Beijing.

The trade war has weighed heavily on the outlook for the world's second-largest economy.

Already lower due to downgraded global economic forecasts, Wall Street fell even further after the reports were published, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.6 per cent shortly before 2000 GMT.

Soy and corn futures also fell on fears Beijing was less likely to resume imports.

The United States has rejected Beijing's offer to hold preparatory talks in Washington ahead of next week's high-level trade delegation, according to media reports.

The United States has rejected Beijing's offer to hold preparatory talks in Washington ahead of next week's high-level trade delegation, according to media reports. The reports by The Financial Times and CNBC sent US stocks sharply lower, reviving fears that efforts to resolve the US-China trade war could fail. Citing a lack of progress on some of the thorniest issues in the trade dispute -- including allegedly forced technology transfers and structural reforms to China's economy -- Washington cancelled plans for a face-to-face preparatory meeting this week, according to The Times. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is due to travel to the United States next week as the two sides work to resolve their disagreements by March 1, when a 90-day truce is due to expire, allowing US import duties on Chinese goods to increase sharply. The US Treasury Department and Office of the US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Chinese economy last year posted its slowest annual growth in nearly three decades, according to official figures published Monday in Beijing. The trade war has weighed heavily on the outlook for the world's second-largest economy. Already lower due to downgraded global economic forecasts, Wall Street fell even further after the reports were published, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.6 per cent shortly before 2000 GMT. Soy and corn futures also fell on fears Beijing was less likely to resume imports.

US rejects advance trade meeting with China: Reports

The trade deficit between India and the US dropped by almost six per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has said, even as it continued to harp on issues such as market access and high tariffs on several American products being imported into India.

"The US goods trade deficit with India was USD 22.9 billion in 2017, a 5.9 per cent decrease (USD 1.4 billion) over 2016," said the National Trade Estimate 2018 released by the USTR. India is one of the few countries with which US' trade deficit has decreased in the last one year.

US goods exports to India were USD 25.7 billion, up 18.7 per cent (USD 4.0 billion) from the previous year. The corresponding US imports from India were USD 48.6 billion, up 5.6 per cent. India was the US' 15th largest goods export market in 2017, the annual report said.

Similarly, US exports of services to India were an estimated USD 23.1 billion in 2017 and US imports were USD 28.7 billion. Sales of services in India by majority US-owned affiliates were USD 24.5 billion in 2015 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United States by majority India-owned firms were USD 14.7 billion, the voluminous report said.

US foreign direct investment (FDI) in India (stock) was USD 32.9 billion in 2016 (latest data available), a 10.0 per cent increase from 2015. US direct investment in India is led by prof., scientific, and tech. Services, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, it said.

However, the Trump administration continued to harp India on a number of issues, including market access, high tariff and protection of intellectual property.

"In 2017, India implemented price controls on coronary stents and knee implants that do not fully differentiate for advanced technologies within a product class," it said.

National US companies have applied to withdraw technologically advanced products from the market, but the requests have been rejected, forcing the US to sell certain products at a loss. India has indicated it may apply similar price controls on additional medical devices, it said.

According to National Trade Estimate, India continues to maintain some of the highest average tariff rates worldwide. The large gap between India's WTO bound and applied tariff rates allows India to make frequent adjustments to the level of protection provided to domestic producers by modifying tariff rates, it said.

For example, in 2017 India increased tariffs on pulses from zero to 30 and 50 per cent. India also raised tariffs on certain high-tech information and communication technology products from zero to between 10 and 20 per cent. The US companies have raised significant concerns with these actions, it alleged.

"The United States continues to raise these concerns through bilateral engagement with the Indian government, including through the US-India Trade Policy Forum," the USTR said.

According to the report, the US has actively sought bilateral and multilateral opportunities to open India's market, and the government of India has pursued ongoing economic reform efforts. Nevertheless, US exporters continue to encounter tariff and nontariff barriers that impede imports of US products into India, it said.

Noting that India imposes onerous requirements on dairy imports, the report said India continues to require that dairy products be derived from animals which have never consumed any feeds containing internal organs, blood meal, or tissues of ruminant origin.

India has explained that its position is based on religious and cultural grounds, it said. This requirement, along with high tariff rates, continues to prevent market access for US milk and dairy product exports to India, one of the largest dairy markets in the world.

"In order to address India's religious and cultural concerns, in 2015, the US proposed a labelling solution to allow for consumer choice between dairy products derived from animals that have or have not consumed feeds with ruminant protein," the USTR said.

India has so far rejected that proposal, and the US continues to press India to provide access to the Indian dairy market, the report claimed.

The US, it said, has raised concerns about India's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)-related trade restrictions in bilateral and multilateral fora including the TPF, the WTO SPS Committee, and Codex.

According to the report, the US continues to work with India to open market access for US poultry products into India consistent with the WTO ruling. Until then, the US considers the dispute unresolved, it said.

Observing that India maintains zero tolerance standards for certain plant quarantine pests, such as weed seeds and ergot, that are not based on risk assessments and result in blocked imports of US wheat and barley, the report said bilateral discussions to resolve these issues, including at the senior official level, have achieved little success to date.&nbsp

"The US goods trade deficit with India was USD 22.9 billion in 2017, a 5.9 per cent decrease (USD 1.4 billion) over 2016," said the National Trade Estimate 2018 released by the USTR.

The trade deficit between India and the US dropped by almost six per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has said, even as it continued to harp on issues such as market access and high tariffs on several American products being imported into India. "The US goods trade deficit with India was USD 22.9 billion in 2017, a 5.9 per cent decrease (USD 1.4 billion) over 2016," said the National Trade Estimate 2018 released by the USTR. India is one of the few countries with which US' trade deficit has decreased in the last one year. US goods exports to India were USD 25.7 billion, up 18.7 per cent (USD 4.0 billion) from the previous year. The corresponding US imports from India were USD 48.6 billion, up 5.6 per cent. India was the US' 15th largest goods export market in 2017, the annual report said. Similarly, US exports of services to India were an estimated USD 23.1 billion in 2017 and US imports were USD 28.7 billion. Sales of services in India by majority US-owned affiliates were USD 24.5 billion in 2015 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United States by majority India-owned firms were USD 14.7 billion, the voluminous report said. US foreign direct investment (FDI) in India (stock) was USD 32.9 billion in 2016 (latest data available), a 10.0 per cent increase from 2015. US direct investment in India is led by prof., scientific, and tech. Services, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, it said. However, the Trump administration continued to harp India on a number of issues, including market access, high tariff and protection of intellectual property. "In 2017, India implemented price controls on coronary stents and knee implants that do not fully differentiate for advanced technologies within a product class," it said. National US companies have applied to withdraw technologically advanced products from the market, but the requests have been rejected, forcing the US to sell certain products at a loss. India has indicated it may apply similar price controls on additional medical devices, it said. According to National Trade Estimate, India continues to maintain some of the highest average tariff rates worldwide. The large gap between India's WTO bound and applied tariff rates allows India to make frequent adjustments to the level of protection provided to domestic producers by modifying tariff rates, it said. For example, in 2017 India increased tariffs on pulses from zero to 30 and 50 per cent. India also raised tariffs on certain high-tech information and communication technology products from zero to between 10 and 20 per cent. The US companies have raised significant concerns with these actions, it alleged. "The United States continues to raise these concerns through bilateral engagement with the Indian government, including through the US-India Trade Policy Forum," the USTR said. According to the report, the US has actively sought bilateral and multilateral opportunities to open India's market, and the government of India has pursued ongoing economic reform efforts. Nevertheless, US exporters continue to encounter tariff and nontariff barriers that impede imports of US products into India, it said. Noting that India imposes onerous requirements on dairy imports, the report said India continues to require that dairy products be derived from animals which have never consumed any feeds containing internal organs, blood meal, or tissues of ruminant origin. India has explained that its position is based on religious and cultural grounds, it said. This requirement, along with high tariff rates, continues to prevent market access for US milk and dairy product exports to India, one of the largest dairy markets in the world. "In order to address India's religious and cultural concerns, in 2015, the US proposed a labelling solution to allow for consumer choice between dairy products derived from animals that have or have not consumed feeds with ruminant protein," the USTR said. India has so far rejected that proposal, and the US continues to press India to provide access to the Indian dairy market, the report claimed. The US, it said, has raised concerns about India's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)-related trade restrictions in bilateral and multilateral fora including the TPF, the WTO SPS Committee, and Codex. According to the report, the US continues to work with India to open market access for US poultry products into India consistent with the WTO ruling. Until then, the US considers the dispute unresolved, it said. Observing that India maintains zero tolerance standards for certain plant quarantine pests, such as weed seeds and ergot, that are not based on risk assessments and result in blocked imports of US wheat and barley, the report said bilateral discussions to resolve these issues, including at the senior official level, have achieved little success to date.

Trade deficit with India decreased in 2017; concerned over trade barriers: US

India&#39;s economic growth and development could support significantly more American exports in the future, the Trump administration has said.

&quot;Although existing Indian trade and regulatory policies have inhibited an even more robust trade and investment relationship, India&#39;s economic growth and development could support significantly more US exports in the future,&quot; the US Trade Representative said in its trade policy agenda and annual report to Congress Wednesday.

Two-way US-India trade in goods and services in 1980 was only $ 4.8 billion and it grew to an estimated $ 114 billion in 2016, the USTR said, adding that an annual growth rate over this period was more than nine per cent.

It said India&#39;s reform of its goods and services tax may help create a common internal market that significantly lowers transaction costs. Additionally, implementation of India&#39;s National Intellectual Property Rights policy could protect US innovations, it said.

&quot;While these reforms are encouraging, there has also been a general trend of tariff increases in India, which reflects an active pursuit of import substitution policies,&quot; USTR rued.

The Trump administration continues to press India to make meaningful progress in relation to these ambitious goals, primarily through the US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), it said.

In addition to these ongoing concerns, US stakeholders submitted petitions in late 2017 on restrictions on market access for dairy products and medical devices, seeking suspension of India&#39;s benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, it said.

&quot;The most recent TPF, held on October 26, 2017, in Washington, DC, yielded limited progress on these and other areas of concern,&quot; USTR said, adding that it will continue to press for progress across the full range of bilateral trade issues, including intellectual property rights and market access for agriculture, non-agriculture goods, and services.

&quot;These efforts will include TPF intersessional meetings, which include participation by senior-level officials from key US departments and agencies, and the ministerial-level TPF at the end of 2018. This enhanced bilateral engagement will provide an opportunity to achieve meaningful results on a wide range of trade and investment issues,&quot; the USTR said.

In the 2017 US-India Bilateral Trade Policy Forum, USTR raised concerns with India&#39;s longstanding data localisation requirements, and expressed interest in working with the Indian government as it crafts a new data protection law to ensure that the law does not have negative impacts on digital trade.

&quot;USTR continues to work with the Indian government to encourage more robust bilateral digital trade,&quot; the report said.&nbsp;

'Although existing Indian trade and regulatory policies have inhibited an even more robust trade and investment relationship, India's economic growth and development could support significantly more US exports in the future,' the US Trade Representative said

India's economic growth and development could support significantly more American exports in the future, the Trump administration has said. "Although existing Indian trade and regulatory policies have inhibited an even more robust trade and investment relationship, India's economic growth and development could support significantly more US exports in the future," the US Trade Representative said in its trade policy agenda and annual report to Congress Wednesday. Two-way US-India trade in goods and services in 1980 was only $ 4.8 billion and it grew to an estimated $ 114 billion in 2016, the USTR said, adding that an annual growth rate over this period was more than nine per cent. It said India's reform of its goods and services tax may help create a common internal market that significantly lowers transaction costs. Additionally, implementation of India's National Intellectual Property Rights policy could protect US innovations, it said. "While these reforms are encouraging, there has also been a general trend of tariff increases in India, which reflects an active pursuit of import substitution policies," USTR rued. The Trump administration continues to press India to make meaningful progress in relation to these ambitious goals, primarily through the US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), it said. In addition to these ongoing concerns, US stakeholders submitted petitions in late 2017 on restrictions on market access for dairy products and medical devices, seeking suspension of India's benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, it said. "The most recent TPF, held on October 26, 2017, in Washington, DC, yielded limited progress on these and other areas of concern," USTR said, adding that it will continue to press for progress across the full range of bilateral trade issues, including intellectual property rights and market access for agriculture, non-agriculture goods, and services. "These efforts will include TPF intersessional meetings, which include participation by senior-level officials from key US departments and agencies, and the ministerial-level TPF at the end of 2018. This enhanced bilateral engagement will provide an opportunity to achieve meaningful results on a wide range of trade and investment issues," the USTR said. In the 2017 US-India Bilateral Trade Policy Forum, USTR raised concerns with India's longstanding data localisation requirements, and expressed interest in working with the Indian government as it crafts a new data protection law to ensure that the law does not have negative impacts on digital trade. "USTR continues to work with the Indian government to encourage more robust bilateral digital trade," the report said.

India's economic growth could support more US exports in future: US Trade Representative