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Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches.
New York
CNN
—
The clock has wound down on the newest Apple Watch after the White House declined to issue a last-minute, emergency action to keep the best-selling smartwatch on store shelves.
The Biden White House had until the end of Christmas day to overturn a US International Trade Commission ruling that prevents Apple from importing the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, among other newer models, because they violate patents registered to another company. But, as expected, it did not intervene.
The office of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai confirmed the decision in a statement Tuesday.
“After careful consultations, Ambassador Tai decided not to reverse the ITC’s determination and the ITC’s decision became final on December 26, 2023,” Tai’s office said.
Apple had already taken the offending Watch models off its online store, and Apple Store locations opened Tuesday without…