Korea’s President Park has reason to be upset, as Obama allows a ban on some older Samsung smartphones to the US. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, “We express regret over the decision of the U.S. trade representative not to veto the U.S. International Trade Commission’s exclusion order against Samsung.”

Samsung vs Apple: Korean & US trade relations threatened

The selected phones are said to have infringed on two Apple patents (the 949 patent, which deals with commands on touch-screen devices, and the 501 patent, which is related to input and output detection for microphone and headphone jacks).
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman stated that, “After carefully weighing policy considerations, including the impact on consumers and competition, advice from agencies and information from interested parties, I have decided to allow the import ban.”
Samsung also said that they are “disappointed” and that “It will serve only to reduce competition and limit choice.” Samsung is considering appealing the ban.
Samsung now holds the crown of largest player in the $279.9 billion global smartphone market, with Apple losing ground in second place. But loosing ground in the world’s largest market, the US, could seriously affect Samsung’s standing, even if newer devices are not affected.
While Korea and the US (South Korea, that is) have enjoyed great political and trade relations in the past, the decision could be seen as siding with an American company over a Korean one, which could affect the relationship, said a spokesman for the Computer & Communications Industry Association in Washington, D.C.
I am sure we have not seen the end of Apple vs Samsung disputes, so stay tuned for more.

Edited from original on Korea Joongang Daily

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