A U.S. trade panel on Monday launched a probe into certain electronic imaging devices from various regions including China after a U.S. company alleged its patents were infringed.

The products at issue in this investigation are mobile phones, tablet computers and other devices with imaging capabilities, said the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in a statement.

FlashPoint Technology Inc. of Peterborough, New Hampshire filed a complaint last month with USITC, claiming those products violated the section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by infringing their patents and requesting the agency to issue an exclusion order, cease and desist orders against those products.

The USITC said it had identified eight respondents at home and abroad, including China's Huawei Technology Company, ZTE Corporation, and HTC Corporation of Taiwan.

The trade agency is scheduled to set a target date for completing the investigation within 45 days after institution of the probe. If the complaint is approved, it will ban importation of those products.

Section 337 investigations focus on allegations of patent or registered trademark infringement, and also involve misappropriation of trade secrets, trade dress infringement, passing off, false advertising, and violation of the antitrust laws.

The U.S. move came at a time when protectionism is making a comeback in America amid sluggish economic recovery. It was widely believed that such actions would only hurt U.S.-China trade relations that are increasingly critical to global recovery.

(Source: Xinhua)