The U.S. adds Tencent and Alibaba's e-commerce sites to the 'notorious markets' list

February 21, 2022: -On Thursday, E-commerce sites operated by China’s Tencent and Alibaba Group were included on the U.S. government’s recent “notorious markets” list of entities that allegedly sell or facilitate the sale of counterfeit goods, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said.

The list identifies 42 online markets and 35 physical markets reported engaging in or facilitating substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.

“This is including identifying for the first time AliExpress, and the WeChat e-commerce ecosystem, both significant China-based online markets that reportedly facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting,” the USTR office said in a statement.

China-based online markets Baidu Wangpan, DHGate, Pinduoduo, and Taobao, continue to be part of the list, along with nine physical demands located within China “that are known for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods,” the USTR office said.

The list highlights online and physical markets that engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.

Alibaba said it would continue working with government agencies to address concerns in intellectual property protection across its platforms.

Industry bodies such as the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Motion Picture Association welcomed the release of the report by the USTR.

The USTR office said in a different report released on Wednesday that the U.S needs to pursue the latest strategies and update its domestic trade tools to deal with China’s “state-led, non-market policies and practices.”

The U.S. and China have been engaged in trade tensions for years over tariffs, technology, and intellectual property, among others.

The U.S has said China had failed to make good on some commitments under a so-called “Phase 1” trade agreement signed by the administration of former President Donald Trump.