Mainland China: The Land of Counterfeits

According to data published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 81 percent of counterfeit merchandise seized in the U.S. in 2005 came from China. China is the largest source of counterfeit goods, most of which are shoes, clothes, handbags and computer products.

Investigation results recently published by the Executive Committee of the European Union shows that two thirds of the counterfeit merchandise seized at European Union borders came also from China. Last November, German customs in the port of Hamburg uncovered the largest counterfeiting ring in the world and confiscated 117 cargo containers of counterfeit goods worth about $517 million, and much of the cargo came from China.

Counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags displayed at the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce. (AFP/Getty Images)	Counterfeit name-brand dress shirts displayed at the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce. (AFP/Getty Images)
Counterfeit bottled wine displayed at the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce. (AFP/Getty Images)	Counterfeit name-brand sun glasses sold on Shanghai streets. (AFP/Getty Images)
Counterfeit name-brand shoes sold on Shanghai streets. (AFP/Getty Images)	Counterfeit name-brand athletic shoes sold in a Beijing shoe store. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)
Counterfeit train tickets in Chongqing City, Sichuan Province. (China Photos/Getty Images)	All kinds of counterfeit credentials and certificates in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. (China Photos/Getty Images)