India’s government dealt Apple’s plans for expansion another setback Monday, formally rejecting the company’s request to sell used iPhones in the country, Live Mint reports. Tim Cook had defended Apple’s request during his Indian tour, saying the company has similar programs in countries all over the world to sell refurbished phones that the company has restored to a “pristine level’ but made available at a lower price.
But at a press conference, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed the country’s decision to ban the sales, saying, “We are not in favor of any company selling used phones in the country, however certified they may be.” The decision follows last week’s ruling by India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board rejecting Apple’s request for an exemption from regulations forcing single-brand retailers to obtain 30 percent of their products’ materials locally. [via 9to5Mac]
