The Philippines again landed in the list of notorious physical sites for counterfeit and pirated goods of the US Trade Representative.
The USTR 2023 Notorious Market List cited the establishments at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City as a hub for counterfeit brands of accessories, bags, electronic gadgets, footwear, perfumes, and watches.
The Philippines joined 19 other countries trading illicit goods in the USTR list.
The report noted that despite efforts by state agencies to curb illegal trade of counterfeit items in Greenhills, many merchants operating within the shopping mall managed to circumvent government monitoring.
The Philippine government, through the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, has worked with right holders and the management at Greenhills Shopping Center on enforcement against counterfeit sellers, including product seizures and legal charges against counterfeit vendors.
Coordinated efforts between right holders and mall management have resulted in warning letters and suspension of business for repeat violators.
The mall management, with the support of city authorities, is reportedly in the process of converting Greenhills Shopping Center into a high-end 50-stall mall with legitimate sellers.
The USTR noted that right holders acknowledged the strong partnership between various government agencies and the mall management but said they will need to wait and see the results.
The report highlighted that in 2023, stakeholders reported that foot traffic at many physical counterfeit markets has significantly recovered from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, stakeholders also noted that due to a lack of tourism and in-person buyers during the pandemic, many physical markets shifted to online sales, which the markets’ vendors continue to maintain and profit.