The U.S. Trade Commission has added a string of sites like AliExpress and WeChat, as well as physical markets in China, to the list of those involved in counterfeiting and intellectual property theft; “This undermines American innovation and creativity,” it said
The U.S. has added sites operated by Chinese technology giants Alibaba and Tencent to the blacklist of businesses accused of trading in counterfeit goods, according to a BBC report. The sites also include AliExpress, which is owned by Alibaba.
The list includes 42 online sites and 35 physical stores, including companies’ online trading platforms. The U.S. Commerce Department said the sites were “involved in or forged trademarks and infringements of property rights.”
The U.S. and China have ongoing disputes over trade and technology issues, including a tariff war and corporate sanctions.
“Global trade in counterfeit and pirated products undermines American innovation and creativity and harms American workers,” said U.S. Trade Commissioner Katherine Tai.
According to a statement from the Department of Commerce, the list includes for the first time the e-commerce sites AliExpress and WeChat owned by Tencent. Both sites have been dubbed “significant Chinese online markets that carry out widespread trademark counterfeiting.”
The list also includes Chinese e-commerce sites Baidu Wangpan, DHGate, Pinduodou and Taubau “as well as 9 physical markets located in China that are known for producing, distributing and selling counterfeit goods”.
Tencentent said they are “investing serious resources” in protecting intellectual property on its platforms. “We strongly oppose the decision of the U.S. Trade Commission and are committed to working with them to resolve the issue,” a company spokesman said in response. No response was received from Alibaba.
The list, published since 2006, is designed to protect American businesses and workers from the consequences of distributing counterfeit and cheap goods that are mostly produced outside the country.
In a report released by the Commission earlier this week, it accused China of failing to meet its trade obligations despite being a member of the World Trade Organization. China was also accused of causing “serious harm” to workers and companies around the world due to its trade practices.