The US International Trade Commission launched an investigation based on patent-infringement complaint seeking to block US imports of construction equipment. Caterpillar filed its ITC complaint May 26, along with another in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. ITC investigations typically take 15-18 months, faster than district court cases, which usually are placed on hold pending resolution of a mirrored trade dispute. The agency posted notice of the probe June 26 on its website.