U.S. to challenge judge's order that blocked U.S. WeChat app store ban

WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department said Monday it will challenge an order issued Sunday by a U.S. judge that blocked the department's order requiring Apple and Google to remove WeChat from their U.S. app stores.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the department's order, which would also have barred other U.S. transactions with Tencent Holding's WeChat, potentially making the app unusable in the U.S.

"Prohibiting the identified transactions is necessary to protect the national security of the United States, and the department expects to soon seek relief from this order," the Commerce Department said. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Kevin Liffey)