The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has agreed to investigate the use of components in various Apple devices at the behest of Qualcomm.
Qualcomm last month requested that the USITC launch an investigation into whether Apple has engaged in unfair trade practices by importing certain iPhones and iPads – including the iPhone 7 - that allegedly infringe on six Qualcomm patents.
The chipmaker is seeking a limited exclusion order to bar importation and a cease and desist order to bar sales and marketing in the US of iPhones and iPads that use cellular baseband processors not supplied by Qualcomm affiliates.
In a notice, the USITC said it will pursue the investigation and has identified Apple as the respondent.
The case will be assigned to one of the USITC's administrative law judges who will make an initial determination as to whether a violation occurred. A target date for the completion of the investigation will be provided within 45 days.
As well as the ITC complaint, Qualcomm is also suing Apple in both the US and Germany alleging infringement of the same six patents.
Apple is meanwhile suing Qualcomm in the US, China and the UK, accusing the chipmaker of abusing its dominant market position to force Apple to pay billions in superfluous royalty payments for components that have nothing to do with Qualcomm baseband processors.