'68% of counterfeit goods seized in US come from China'

China is the primary source for counterfeit and pirated goods seized in the US, according to an official report that puts India at a distant third.

In the year 2013, Chinese counterfeit and pirated goods seized in the US accounted for a total value of $1.1 billion, representing 68% of all such goods seizures by the Customs and Border Protection, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said yesterday in its annual report.

China was closely followed by counterfeit and pirated goods from Hong Kong, which accounted for 25% of the total goods seized.

Hong Kong, a former British colony is now a special administrative region of China.

China and Hong Kong was followed by India at a distant third position, accounting for three per cent of the total goods seized, the report said.

The number of intellectual property rights (IPR) seizures increased nearly seven per cent from 22,848 in fiscal 2012 to 24,361 in fiscal 2013.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of seized goods increased from $1.26 billion in FY 2012 to $1.74 billion in FY 2013.

The report averaged slightly over 66 seizures per day, with an average MSRP of each seizure being slightly more than $71,500.

"Together with our IPR partners, CBP continues to guard the nation's borders against counterfeit products," said Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R Gil Kerlikowske.

"These products are not only unsafe and dangerous to consumers, but they also pose a threat to the economic security of our country," he added.

The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center continued its initiative Operation 'In Our Sites' in FY 2013 to shutdown rogue websites trading in counterfeit and pirated goods.

It seized control of 1,413 websites trading in these illicit goods in FY 2013. Consumers are reminded to remain vigilant when making online purchases, the report said.