The association representing apparel manufacturers says it is upset that one of China's largest e-retailers, Alibaba, has done little to prevent the sale of counterfeit brand clothing through its website.

In a letter to the company chairman, American Apparel & Footwear Association CEO Juanita Duggan called on Alibaba to begin addressing counterfeits "in a manner that is transparent, comprehensible and fast."

"We are asking for Alibaba to create a process whereby Alibaba removes counterfeits quickly at the request of certified brands," Duggan said.

Duggan's letter came after years of "unproductive conversations" with Alibaba, the association said in a statement. The group believes the process Alibaba currently has for removing brand forgeries is cumbersome and full of barriers.

"There's been a lot of talk but little public, verifiable results," Duggan said. "It should be in everyone's interest, including Alibaba's, that it share its progress." http://bit.ly/1Oom52q

The association already has sent letters to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Office of the United States Trade Representatives complaining about Alibaba's "sluggish or non-existent" take down procedures. In addition, several clothing companies sued Alibaba in May for allegedly selling counterfeit versions of their brands.

In a 2014 statement, Alibaba it has built systems to fight counterfeiting and has seen a drop in counterfeiting claims as a result. http://bit.ly/1Ig0CEk

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