Eli Clemens

Organized retail crime is increasingly exploiting e-commerce platforms, and while companies like Amazon and eBay are investing in detection and transparency, governments must strengthen law enforcement and coordination to effectively combat these organized criminal networks.

Lawmakers risk misregulating grocery prices by targeting dynamic and algorithmic pricing tools, and should instead focus on enforcing existing laws against clearly defined deceptive practices.

Chinese firms with ties to Beijing—and in some cases China’s military—are quietly exploiting America’s open economy, taxpayer support, and weak post-acquisition oversight, and Congress should close those loopholes before more U.S. innovation and industrial capacity are used to advance China’s strategic aims.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission should shift more enforcement focus toward Chinese e-commerce platforms—like Temu and SHEIN—because, despite widespread safety violations linked to Chinese-made goods, these high-scale marketplaces face disproportionately little scrutiny despite posing significant risks to U.S. consumers.

While false “Made in USA” claims are a real problem, the solution is not holding online marketplaces liable but strengthening data infrastructure and verification systems that enable regulators, consumers, and AI tools to more effectively identify and enforce legitimate claims.

Boosting U.S. competitiveness in national power industries is necessary, but not sufficient to avoid losing to China. America also must take measures to slow the PRC’s progress toward global dominance. This report provides more than 100 actionable recommendations for the administration and Congress. Western allies should take many of the same steps.

China has surged ahead of the United States in adopting sidewalk delivery robots due to more proactive and coordinated policy experimentation, offering lessons for U.S. policymakers on how real-world pilots and clearer regulatory frameworks can accelerate deployment of autonomous delivery technology.

Agentic commerce—where AI agents autonomously shop and transact on users’ behalf—could deliver major efficiency gains, but outdated regulations and unresolved legal questions risk slowing adoption unless policymakers update rules built for human-driven transactions.

CFIUS’ procedures need to be strengthened to ensure that Chinese entities, particularly those influenced or backed by Chinese government influence or funding, cannot acquire U.S. companies or technology that could harm America’s economic or national security.

Congress is right to flag Alipay over national security and data risks, but a blanket ban without first conducting audits or establishing reciprocity safeguards would be premature. Regulators should investigate the platform before Congress considers banning it.

Chinese online marketplaces like AliExpress and Temu often list counterfeits of American products while limiting search engine indexing, making it difficult for rights holders to detect infringements. The U.S. Trade Representative should include these platforms on the 2025 Notorious Markets List and consider indexing transparency as a criterion for future listings.

Advanced manufacturers based in East Asia are expanding investment into the U.S. economy. Yet, many of their internal value chains remain anchored in China, giving the PRC significant leverage over U.S. interests. U.S. policymakers should respond both defensively and offensively.

Watch now for a panel discussion on how data and technology can create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces, and the policies needed to encourage adoption while protecting workers.

Watch now 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.

Eli Clemens submitted written remarks about how the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can use AI to focus its mission at the CPSC's FY26/FY27 Priorities Hearing.

Eli Clemens speaks as a panelist at the 2025 North America Product Safety Training Workshop hosted by the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization.

Eli Clemens spoke at a stakeholder roundtable discussion hosted by the OECD and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Clemens urged the OECD to confront China's role as the main source of counterfeit goods in global ecommerce.

Watch now for a discussion with experts on e-commerce regulation, logistics, and policy as they explored the growth of Chinese e-commerce platforms, their impact on U.S. businesses and consumers, and how policymakers and industry leaders should respond.