<span>Fitbit will expand into new markets in the Middle East and Africa, as the </span><span>gadget maker </span><span>evaluates the effect on its business from </span><span>US tariffs on products made in China, a top company executive said.</span> The world's two biggest economies have been engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war that has threatened global economic growth and forced the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to revise down their projections for world economy.<br/> <span>The </span><span>tariff war is a major issue for many US corporations</span><span>. Apple</span><span> is lobbying against the rise in levies because it affects </span><span>business and increases the cost of its products for American consumers as well.</span> <span>American companies received a temporary respite last month when the Trump administration delayed a round of tariff increases on $250 billion (Dh918.29bn) worth of Chinese goods until October 15. China also said it would exclude some of the American products from its </span><span>list.</span> <span>"Our manufacturing is done in China and any increase in existing tariffs or new duties will have a direct impact on our business," said Vincent Lamoureux, director of new markets at Fitbit</span><span><em>.</em></span> <span>“Things are still developing and we are also evaluating the situation … We will comply by the rules and haven’t decided yet on how to deal with the increased burden, if there is any,” Mr Lamoureux said.</span> <span>One way for Fitbit to offset any </span><span>shock to its business is to strengthen </span><span>presence in </span><span>existing markets and </span><span>enter new ones. </span> <span>Within the MEA region, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and South Africa are “performing very well he said. </span> <span>Fitbit</span><span> recently </span><span>entered Morocco and will launch </span><span>in Algeria and Tunisia next year. It has </span><span>completed certification requirements for Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, and </span><span>will enter the market "soon".</span> <span>“We will be expanding in Lebanon, Turkey and down the line into Jordan as well. It’s a natural business progression from the UAE but we have to move step by step,” said Mr Lamoureux.</span> <span>Fitbit manufactures products such as </span><span>smartwatches and wireless headphones that track activities and provide everyday tips for health and fitness.</span> <span>Its connected </span><span>device and app were </span><span>differentiators for the brand but are now facing stiff competition from </span><span>Apple and Samsung.</span> <span>To attract health-conscious customers, Apple integrated an electrocardiography </span><span>app into its Watch Series 4 and WatchOS 5 </span><span>last year. Samsung has </span><span>reportedly applied to US health authorities for approval to add an ECG heart-monitoring feature to its smartwatch that will be introduced next year.</span> <span>Many new companies are jumping in the wearables </span><span>business, increasing the size of the pie, said Mr Lamoureux. "Of course, you will lose some market share </span><span>but your overall business will grow," he added.</span> <span>Collectively, Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and Garmin are the four most popular smartwatch brands, accounting for eight in 10 devices shipped worldwide.</span> <span>Driven by nearly 30 per cent growth in the number of devices sold globally, Fitbit's revenue increased 5 per cent year-on-year to $314 million in the last quarter to June. </span><span>Despite selling 800,000 more devices in the last quarter, the company's </span><span>market share still suffered a slight slump.</span> <span>Last week, </span><span>Fitbit Versa 2, the next generation of its best-selling smartwatch in the region, launched in the UAE. At Dh899, it will be available at leading </span><span>stores and retail websites in the country from</span><span> Tuesday.</span> <span>"We are very committed to this region </span><span>and we will be making new announcements and hiring more staff here to facilitate our growth plans," Mr Lamoureux, said without specifying </span><span>a figure.</span> <span>Fitbit, which launched its UAE operations in 2013, is awaiting approvals to launch more apps to track cardiac health and </span><span>manage </span><span>chronic diseases in the Middle East</span><span>, he said.</span> <span>“Dealing with chronic diseases through technology will be the next big thing. We are actively using the collected data to improve the algorithm of our apps,” said Mr Lamoureux.</span>