The dispute between United States and China on trade issues such as tariffs, technology and intellectual property has been ongoing for years since Donald Trump's administration.
Recently, China-based Tencent and Alibaba's e-commerce sites were added to US Trade Representative's (USTR) latest "notorious markets" list.
The aim of the list is to raise awareness of counterfeit goods and help intellectual property enforcement.
WeChat and AliExpress Added to the List
- A total of 42 online markets and 35 physical markets are identified on the list.
- First time added to the list includes AliExpress and WeChat’s e-commerce ecosystem, reportedly facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting.
- Existing entries such as China-based online markets Baidu Wangpan, DHGate, Pinduoduo, and Taobao also continue to be part of the list.
- It is noted that along with nine physical markets located within China, the online marketplaces are "known for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods."
China Disagree with Decision
- China said the action is "irresponsible" and disagrees with the USTR's decision to include the e-commerce sites in the list.
- Alibaba commented that it will work with government agencies to address concerns about intellectual property protection across its platforms.
- Tencent also said it is "committed to working collaboratively to resolve this matter."
- Tencent further added that it strongly disagreed with the decision and mentioned that it had invested significant resources into intellectual property rights protection.
- There is no direct penalties for the companies inclusion on the list but definitely it is a setback to their reputation.
