Obama Administration Disapproves ITC’s Exclusion Order On Apple Products

On August 3, 2013, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, acting under the authority of President Obama, sent a letter noting his disapproval of the International Trade Commission's determination to issue an exclusion order in connection with the investigation prompted by Samsung against Apple's iPhone, effectively ending the investigation.

For the first time since the administration of President Ronald Reagan, an exclusion order issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has been disapproved by the president on policy grounds.  On August 3, 2013, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, acting under the authority of President Obama, sent a letter to the ITC noting his disapproval of the ITC's determination to issue an exclusion order in Certain Electronic Devices, Including Wireless Communication Devices, Portable Music and Data Processing Devices, and Table Computers, Investigation No. 337-TA-794.  The letter explained that the USTR's