Apple’s plea to have the Apple Watch exempted from U.S. import tariffs has been approved, wiping the 15% tax imposed on Apple for products it imports into the United States from its manufacturers and assembly partners in China.
Within a report published today, Bloomberg sources claim on Friday a U.S. Trade Representative approved Apple’s request to have the import fees waived which went into effect on September 1, and was later cut in half on February 15 after an initial trade deal was established.
Apple argued it shouldn’t be charged an import fee for the Apple Watch which it brings in from China, saying the wearable wasn’t “strategically important,” nor related to Chinese initiatives such as “Made in China 2025,” which are designed to encourage manufacturing in the country. Apple also said it hasn’t been able to find a supplier out of China who can cope with the demand from the U.S. for the Apple Watch.