U.S. adds Chinese markets Alibaba and Tencent to "notorious markets" list 

The U.S. government added e-commerce sites operated by China’s Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding to its “notorious market” list for dealing in counterfeit and pirated goods, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office (USTR) said on Thursday. 

The “notorious market” list includes 42 online and 35 physical markets that allegedly engage or facilitate trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.

Online markets such as Taobao, Pinduoduo, DHGate, and Baidu Wangpan “are known for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods," according to the USTR office.

The USTR added AliExpress and the WeChat e-commerce ecosystem to the list on Thursday. “Two significant China-based online markets that reportedly facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting," the USTR office said in a statement.

The Chinese ministry of commerce responded to the move by calling it “irresponsible” and urged the U.S. to "objectively reflect efforts and progress made by China."

Tencent said in a statement that they “strongly disagree with the decision made by the United States Trade Representative and are committed to working collaboratively to resolve this matter."

Tencent claimed it monitors, deters, and acts upon copyright violations. Alibaba also said it will continue to address the issue. 

"Counterfeit and pirated goods from China, together with [transferred] goods from China to Hong Kong, accounted for 83% of the value" of items seized by border agents in 2020, according to the USTR. 

"This illicit trade also increases the vulnerability of workers involved in the manufacturing of counterfeit goods to exploitative labor practices, and the counterfeit goods can pose significant risks to the health and safety of consumers and workers around the world."