Apple Import Ban Explored by U.S. Agency in Samsung Case

A U.S. trade agency is considering how much consumers and the U.S. economy would be hurt should it ban imports of Apple Inc. iPhones and iPads over a patent held by its largest competitor, Samsung Electronics Co.

The U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington was scheduled to issue a final decision in Samsung’s patent-infringement case yesterday. Instead, it asked for comments on how a ban would affect the market for smartphones and tablet computers. The question pertains to one of four patents that Samsung asserted against Apple, for a way that phones transmit data. The agency said it would make its decision May 31.