Rajput welcomes US decision on counterfeit
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has been addressing the problem of illicit trade with regards to counterfeiting, smuggling and piracy through its initiative in the form of Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE).
Highlighting the efforts, FICCI CASCADE Chairman Anil Rajput welcomed the US initiative of Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods which is aimed at stopping the sales of counterfeit products especially via online platforms.
US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum to combat counterfeit goods in the American marketplace within 210 days.
The US Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Commerce Department, the attorney general and other federal agencies will compose a report with recommendations to combat counterfeit goods in the American marketplace within 210 days.
“This is a proactive step taken by the US President to curb the menace arising out of sale of counterfeits which adversely impacts the legal industry, government revenue and the health and safely of the people. Illicit trade also fuels organized crime. It threatens the peace and stability worldwide, and hence all countries across the world must address the matter on war footing,” Rajput said on 16 April 2019.
FICCI CASCADE works closely with government, industry, enforcement officials, media, legal experts and consumer organizations to create awareness on counterfeiting and smuggling and how all concerned must make concerted effort to contain such activities.
In view of the increasing menace of illicit trade both in terms of value and magnitude, FICCI is of the opinion that the Indian government must treat this as a national priority which will help in eliminating this threat.
For the larger interest of the nation and to ensure that this issue gets the desired attention, FICCI, early this year, submitted a set of recommendations to the Indian government to combat illicit Trade and urged the government to give it due consideration by setting up a coordinating agency to improve the inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination in the government.
The US President has called for a report analyzing the available data, identify the factors and describe any market incentives and distortions that may contribute to third party intermediaries facilitating trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. This report will also provide a foundation for any recommended administrative, regulatory, legislative or policy changes in this matter.
As per the recent study released by OECD, trade in counterfeit and pirated products represents 3.3% of the world trade. The study also elucidates that the share of fakes in world trade has grown significantly posing a big risk for the knowledge based, open and globalized economy. fiinews.com
