In a new battle for Apple’s launch plans at the end of 2025, a new ITC decision means that certain iPhone models and devices could be banned from sales in the US by the end of the year.
As reported by the Korean sales -ethews, ITC gave on Friday that the Chinese company Boe, a large Apple Display provider, had violated Samsung Display’s trade secrets and should be subject to an import ban. This, for its part, means that Apple may not be able to import any iPhones made using Boe OLED screens for the US, which unfortunately includes the latest models.
“It’s a finding of [Final Initial Determination] to [Samsung Display] have proven by an overweight of evidence that [BOE and seven subsidiaries] has violated Subsection A) (1) (A) (i) of Section 337 of the Customs Act of 1930, in imports to the United States or in the sale of certain organic light-emitting diodisplay modules and components thereof due to incorrect use of trade secrets, ”reads the decision, which can be read on the IT C site.
“This decision recommends: (1) a limited exclusion order with a standard certification provision after a Commission’s decision on imported products manufactured without the use of the incorrectly used trade secrets; (2) a cessation-and-Desist order against each respondent, both domestic and foreign; and (3) a bond of 100% during the president’s review.”
The exclusion order prevents Apple from importing abusive products into the United States that cessation-and-desist order does not prevent the sale of warehouse that has already reached the states.
Let’s handle the complications. First, this is only a preliminary decision, but as Etnews notes (via Google Translate), “it is extremely rare for a preliminary decision to be overturned in a final decision.”
Secondly, the timing. The ITC decision does not take effect immediately; On the contrary, an import ban would begin in November this year, where the final decision (likely to be the same as the preliminary as mentioned above) is issued. And this can still vetes down by the US president, so Apple hopes it’s in President Trump’s good books.
Third, it’s not as easy as you might think to say which iPhones are using Boe screens because Apple has multiple screen suppliers. IPhone 15, 15 plus, 16, 16 plus and 16E can all be affected by a ban because there are devices on these devices currently sold in the US with Boe screens, but there are also devices with the same phones with screens from other companies, including Samsung and LG. Apple may juggle with its inventory to divert Boe devices into overseas markets, but this will add another layer of complication to an already confusing complicated system.
And finally, how does this iPhone 17 affect? Apple is currently using BOE for some devices of its non-prohones, so it would be logical to expect the iPhone 17 and potential iPhone 17 air to be affected. However, it was reported last week that Apple will be limited use of Boe screens to China, which would relieve the problem on the latest model.
Furthermore, 9TO5MAC reports that no iPhones will be affected by the decision, “probably because the ban applies to specific OLED screen types not used in iPhones.” And since the iPhone 15 is likely to fall off the set -up in September, when the new models change everything down, the decision can only affect the iPhone 16 and 16E models anyway, which is a simpler problem to solve.
In any case, between now and September, when the iPhone 17 will be announced, and November, when the final decision will be handed down, Apple is likely to move its supply chain something. And it is completely possible that the company has already prepared for exactly this eventuality when ITC began its study.