Petra Herkul, Chair of the MARQUES Anti-Counterfeiting and Parallel Trade Team, brings news about today’s report on trade in counterfeit goods and free trade zones, published by the EUIPO and OECD:

Many countries have set up Free Trade Zones. The purpose is to support economic development by providing tax advantages and other regulatory exemptions, bringing economic benefits. The downside is that these zones can be misused by criminal organizations to traffic and smuggle counterfeit and pirated goods with all the negative effects know to brand owners and their experts.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and EUIPO, supported by World Customs Organization, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and the United States Department of Homeland Security, have undertaken a study into this topic, resulting in a confirmation of the links between trade in counterfeit and pirated goods and free trade zones.

The full report can be found here.

The goal is to ensure that Free Trade Zones continue to develop as important institutions that promote international trade without facilitating illicit activities.

More information and analysis of the report by MARQUES Teams will be posted on this blog and in the HouseMARQUES newsletter soon.