US tags Quiapo as one of the world’s notorious markets
WASHINGTON considers the Philippines’ Quiapo shopping district as one of the world’s notorious markets for pirated goods, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said in a report released on Monday.
While the Quiapo church in Manila draws religious devotees, it also attracts shoppers looking to buy counterfeit goods that are being peddled in the area. Photo by Jonathan L. Cellona
The US government identified 30 physical and online markets worldwide known to deal in goods and services that infringe on intellectual property rights (IPR).
“Piracy and counterfeiting continue to present a serious challenge to the innovation and creativity that is essential to supporting American jobs and creating economic growth around the world,” US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a statement.
“We hope that this review will continue to yield the kind of concrete action from highlighted markets that led to the removal of several markets from the list this year,” he added.
The current roster was culled from public submissions by interested American and non-American stakeholders between Sept. 22 and Oct. 26.
The 30 markets identified -- the list includes shopping malls, public markets, and entire city blocks from Ecuador, China, India, Indonesia, Paraguay, Ukraine, Thailand, Mexico, and Colombia -- do not constitute an exhaustive list, the report noted.
Quiapo, the US said, “is just one example of several locations and neighborhoods, especially in metropolitan Manila, known to deal in counterfeit and pirated goods such as clothing, shoes, watches, handbags, and software.”
A February 2011 review also identified the same district. Last year’s Annual Special 301 Report included Greenhills, Binondo, Makati Cinema Square, and the 168 Mall in Divisoria as among the Philippines’ notorious markets. -- E. J. Diaz
“Piracy and counterfeiting continue to present a serious challenge to the innovation and creativity that is essential to supporting American jobs and creating economic growth around the world,” US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a statement.
“We hope that this review will continue to yield the kind of concrete action from highlighted markets that led to the removal of several markets from the list this year,” he added.
The current roster was culled from public submissions by interested American and non-American stakeholders between Sept. 22 and Oct. 26.
The 30 markets identified -- the list includes shopping malls, public markets, and entire city blocks from Ecuador, China, India, Indonesia, Paraguay, Ukraine, Thailand, Mexico, and Colombia -- do not constitute an exhaustive list, the report noted.
Quiapo, the US said, “is just one example of several locations and neighborhoods, especially in metropolitan Manila, known to deal in counterfeit and pirated goods such as clothing, shoes, watches, handbags, and software.”
A February 2011 review also identified the same district. Last year’s Annual Special 301 Report included Greenhills, Binondo, Makati Cinema Square, and the 168 Mall in Divisoria as among the Philippines’ notorious markets. -- E. J. Diaz
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