CEO DATELINE - Apparel association continues fight against Chinese retailer
CEO DATELINE - Apparel association continues fight against Chinese retailer
- October 6, 2015 |
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Walt Williams
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The American Apparel & Footwear Association wants U.S. officials to once again add a Chinese online retailer to the list of "notorious markets" for allegedly selling fake shoe and clothing brands.
According to the association, online marketplace TaoBao was removed from U.S. notorious markets lists in 2012. The list, maintained by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, highlights online and physical marketplaces that engage in copyright piracy or trademark infringement.
AAFA argues that TaoBao facilitates the sale of counterfeit shoes, clothing and handbags. TaoBoa is owned and operated by Chinese retail company Alibaba.
"Our members face enormous difficulty working with TaoBao in solving the problem of counterfeits, meanwhile illegal merchandise continues to proliferate," said Juanita Duggan, CEO of AAFA.
Duggan added that the problem persists despite the association's repeated efforts to work with TaoBao.
"The sheer volume of counterfeits on the site as reported by our members, along with the company's unwillingness to make serious reforms is why, after three years, we feel it is necessary to recommend that TaoBao be added back to the list and that the U.S. elevate the pressure on them to make substantive, measurable improvements to the counterfeit problem," she said. http://bit.ly/1Oix9k0
This is not the first time AAFA has spoken out against TaoBao and Alibaba. Earlier this year, the association sent a letter to Alibaba's executive chairman demanding the company stop selling counterfeit products.
For its part, the company told Dow Jones Business News that it was willing to hold discussions with AFAA, "however for months they have refused to meet with us." http://bit.ly/1OixeEl
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