How To Address Counterfeits From Chinese Online Marketplaces

Chinese e-commerce platforms are reshaping international online shopping with business models of scale and speed that compete aggressively on value. But in the process, many have cut corners on intellectual property (IP), fair competition, and consumer safety. ITIF showed in a recent report that Temu, AliExpress, and SHEIN have not prioritized anti-counterfeiting measures at the level needed to safeguard U.S. businesses and consumers.

The result is a marketplace where likely counterfeit cosmetics, apparel, household items, toys, and even pharmaceutical products can be listed, sold, and shipped directly to American households with minimal friction. While U.S. innovators bear the costs of IP theft and American consumers face exposure to unsafe or fraudulent goods, regulators have struggled to act as an effective firewall against the influx of counterfeits. Any lasting solutions will require meaningful accountability at the platform level.

Please join ITIF for an expert panel discussion on the role of Chinese e-commerce platforms in facilitating counterfeiting, what this means for U.S. competitiveness, consumer trust, and global trade, and the steps policymakers should take to safeguard American innovators and consumers.

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