Notorious fake goods markets in SE Asia

 

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) before Christmas issued its Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets. It points the finger at around 30 markets that are famous for dealing in fake goods.

It is a broad list starting with online marketplaces. SE Asian countries don't quite have the combination of internet penetration, local market scale or production capability to yet be of concern to the USTR. So China's Taobao features, for hard goods sales, along with Allofmp3.com and Pirate Bay for media piracy.

Many physical problem markets are located in China, as well as other countries; quite a few South East Asian ones feature:

Harco Glodok (Jakarta, Indonesia). Although one of many, they say the largest, in Indonesia for counterfeit and pirated goods, especially DVDs.  IP Komodo observes this one is unique due to the number of Chinese Indonesian traders and that it is a combined distribution and retail area.

Quiapo Shopping District (Manila, Philippines). This is just one example in Metro Manila, known to deal in counterfeit and pirated goods such as clothing, shoes, watches, handbags, and software.

Red Zones (Thailand). Thai authorities have designated Panthip Plaza, Klong Thom, Saphan Lek and Baan Mor shopping areas, among others, as targets for enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting so they admit these are all problem areas.

It is interesting to see the USTR getting quite specific these days, and focusing a little less on the usual optical media fare.