SAN FRANCISCO, March 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday said it would voluntarily dismiss its own appeal of a Seattle federal court ruling that had suspended President Donald Trump's first executive order concerning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The Trump administration this week issued a new executive order that supplanted the one which had been challenged in court by the state of Washington.

The new order, which takes effect on March 16, is much more narrowly tailored than the first one issued in January. It keeps a 90-day ban on travel to the United States by citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen but excludes Iraq, and applies only to new visa applicants.

19 PHOTOS Business leaders react to Trump administration's travel ban See Gallery Business leaders react to Trump administration's travel ban Bill Ford and Mark Fields, executive chairman and CEO of Ford "Respect for all people is a core value of Ford Motor Company, and we are proud of the rich diversity of our company here at home and around the world." - Memo to employees REUTERS/Rebecca Cook Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO "Like many of you, I'm concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump ... "These issues are personal for me even beyond my family. A few years ago, I taught a class at a local middle school where some of my best students were undocumented. They are our future too. We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here. I hope we find the courage and compassion to bring people together and make this world a better place for everyone." Read full statement here REUTERS/Mariana Bazo/File Photo Elon Musk, Tesla CEO "The blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the country’s challenges. "Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the US. They've done right,not wrong & don't deserve to be rejected." - Twitter REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo Tim Cook, Apple CEO "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do." - Memo to employees (Photo credit JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images) Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon "This executive order is one we do not support. "We're a nation of immigrants whose diverse backgrounds, ideas, and points of view have helped us build and invent as a nation for over 240 years.... It's a distinctive competitive advantage for our country—one we should not weaken." - Memo to employees REUTERS/Brendan McDermid REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO "Trump's actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all. Worse, these actions will make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe. A very sad week, and more to come with the lives of over 600,000 Dreamers here in a America under imminent threat. It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity." - Facebook REUTERS/Steve Marcus/Files Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO "There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business. " - Read full statement here REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS) Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square and CEO of Twitter "11% of Syrian immigrants to the U.S. are business owners, more than triple that of U.S.-born business owners" - Twitter REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/Files Mark Parker, Nike CEO "Nike stands together against bigotry and any form of discrimination. Now more than ever, let’s stand up for our values and remain open and inclusive as a brand and as a company." - Read full statement here REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Brian Chesky, Airbnb founder "Not allowing countries or refugees into America is not right and we must stand with those who are affected. "Airbnb is providing free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US. Stayed tuned for more, contact me if urgent need for housing." - Twitter REUTERS/Phil McCarten Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola CEO "Coca-Cola Co. is resolute in its commitment to diversity, fairness and inclusion, and we do not support this travel ban or any policy that is contrary to our core values and beliefs." -e-mailed statement REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Brian Moynihan, Bank of America CEO "As a global company, we depend upon the diverse sources of talent that our teammates represent. "In view of this, we are closely monitoring the recent refugee- and immigration-related executive order in the United States, and subsequent developments." - Memo to employees REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS HEADSHOT) REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS HEADSHOT) Travis Kalanick, Uber CEO "Drivers who are citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen and live in the U.S. but have left the country, will not be able to return for 90 days. This means they won't be able to earn money and support their families during this period." - Facebook REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui Dara Khosrowshahi, Expedia CEO "I believe that with this Executive Order, our President has reverted to the short game. The U.S. may be ever so slightly less dangerous as a place to live, but it will certainly be seen as a smaller nation, one that is inward-looking versus forward thinking, reactionary versus visionary." - Memo to employees 2010. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS TRAVEL) Jeff Immelt, General Electric CEO "These employees and customers are critical to our success and they are our friends and partners." - Memo to employees REUTERS/Brian Snyder Trip Advisor CEO Stephen Kaufer "We need to do more, not less, to help refugees. Trumps action was wrong on humanitarian grounds, legal grounds, and won't make us 'safer.' " - Twitter (Photo by Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW) Salesforce CEO Vala Afshar Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn CEO "40% of Fortune 500 founded by immigrants or their children. All ethnicities should have access to opportunity -- founding principle of U.S." - Twitter Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff "When we close our hearts & stop loving other people as ourselves (MK 12:31) we forget who we truly are---a light unto the nations. #noban" - Twitter (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Immigration advocates said the new ban still discriminated against Muslims and failed to address some of their concerns with the previous directive. Legal experts said it would, however, be harder to challenge because it affects fewer people living in the United States and allows more exemptions to protect them.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday said his office was evaluating whether it would challenge the new order and would likely decide this week.

In the meantime, the Justice Department on Tuesday asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss its appeal over the old order. Washington state did not oppose the administration's request to end its appeal, the filing said.

The 9th Circuit last month had blocked Trump's first order, saying Washington state would likely be able to prove that it violated constitutional protections.

That appeals court ruling has not been withdrawn and its legal reasoning can still be cited as precedent in future cases, Washington attorney general spokesman Peter Lavallee said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)