US Labels WeChat and AliExpress as 'Counterfeit Havens'

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. government has designated China's AliExpress and WeChat as "notorious markets." This designation was made because these platforms are considered marketplaces where counterfeit and pirated goods are widely sold.

Bloomberg reported on the 17th (local time) that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) included 42 online markets and 36 offline markets in its 2021 Notorious Markets List.

This year, Alibaba's AliExpress and Tencent's WeChat e-commerce ecosystem were included in the list for the first time, which is designated annually by the U.S. government.

The USTR stated, "Serious trademark infringements are occurring on AliExpress and the WeChat e-commerce ecosystem," and pointed out that "WeChat is considered the largest marketplace for counterfeit goods in China."

Alibaba's Taobao has been continuously listed since it was first included in the list in 2019. E-commerce companies Pinduoduo, DHgate, and cloud service Baidu Wangpan also remain on the list.

Bloomberg explained, "Nine physical markets in China involved in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods were included in the list."

Although being on this list does not lead to specific actions by the U.S. government, it can damage the reputation of the companies involved. Alibaba stated, "We will cooperate with government agencies to strengthen intellectual property protection."

The USTR said, "These Chinese markets highlight global concerns about counterfeiting and piracy," adding, "They can cause significant harm to U.S. intellectual property owners, workers, consumers, and the economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.