Itochu buys out New York-based smartphone reseller, eyeing US market

Business dealsJapanese trading house aims to capture demand for low-cost handsets amid rising pricesItochu spent about $13.4 million to fully acquire We Sell Cellular, raising its stake from 79.5%. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)YUI SATOSeptember 4, 2026 22:48 JSTTOKYO -- Japanese trading house Itochu has turned majority-owned unit We Sell Cellular (WSC), a U.S. distributor of used mobile phones, into a wholly owned subsidiary to tap into the growing demand for inexpensive devices as prices soar.