The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG
In response to media inquiries about a recent US social media video claiming that international brand products could be bought cheaply from so-called Chinese “OEM factories” – a claim that attracted both interest in purchase and skepticism over counterfeiting or infringement from American users – an official from China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that the ministry is aware of the reports. Despite the US arbitrarily imposing tariffs on China, many American consumers continue to flock to e-commerce platforms to buy “Made in China” products. This fully demonstrates the high quality and competitive pricing of Chinese goods. Building tariff barriers cannot change the laws of the market, the official said.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to intellectual property protection, and the progress and achievements it has made have been widely recognized, the official said. In recent years, China’s market supervision departments have continuously strengthened administrative law enforcement, investigated and penalized trademark infringement and patent counterfeiting cases in accordance with the law, and carried out special enforcement actions to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of rights holders and consumers.
Meanwhile, commerce departments at all levels have also taken active actions, implementing the quality e-commerce cultivation plan, promoting the main e-commerce platforms to take their main responsibilities, carrying out full-process control in aspects such as qualification access, AI-assisted and manual content review, and stronger intellectual property protections, the official emphasized.
Regarding claims that international famous brand goods can be purchased at low prices from so-called “OEM factories,” the official said that, based on inquiries with relevant industry associations and chambers of commerce, China’s brand-authorized manufacturers place high importance on IP protection and strictly follow contract requirements to maintain the reputation of international brands. Any illegal activities such as false marketing, infringement, or counterfeiting in the name of “OEM factories” will be promptly referred to enforcement authorities for investigation and handled in accordance with the law.
Global Times