U.S. regulators have relisted Chinese retailer Alibaba a "notorious market" for allegedly selling counterfeit products through an online store—a decision that was welcomed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which has lobbied for the designation.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Wednesday that Alibaba's online e-commerce site Taobao.com was relisted "due to the large volume of allegedly counterfeit and pirated goods available and the challenges right holders experience in removing and preventing illicit sales and offers of such goods." The site was taken off the list in 2012 after the company pledged to take steps to fight the problem.

Alibaba has rejected the allegations and claimed the "current political climate" in the U.S. is behind the decision, BBC News reported. The remarks are seemingly an allusion to President-elect Donald Trump, who has accused China of engaging in unfair business practices, although the company did not clarify its meaning. http://bbc.in/2hZ7FQm

AAFA spearheaded a four-year advocacy effort to get Alibaba back on the list. In a statement, CEO Rick Helfenbein said the decision "shines a renewed spotlight on the considerable concerns we and others continue to see on Alibaba platforms."

"In the coming year, we will work with our members, USTR and other government agencies, outside stakeholders, and Alibaba itself to seek sustained improvements that lead to the permanent removal of counterfeits from these online platforms," he said. http://bit.ly/2ifNY7p

CEO Dateline will resume on Jan. 3, 2017.

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