Pacific Mall in Markham is the lone Canadian market included in a list of 18 brick-and-mortar locations and 25 online retailers named by the U.S. government as notorious for counterfeit goods.
Pacific Mall in Markham ‘notorious’ for counterfeit goods, says U.S.
The shopping centre was among the 18 brick-and-mortar locations worldwide called “notorious markets” for counterfeiting and piracy in a report from the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative.
MARKHAM—A U.S. government report says a Toronto-area mall is among the most notorious sources of pirated and counterfeit goods in the world.
Pacific Mall, a predominantly Chinese-Canadian shopping centre in Markham, is one of 18 brick-and-mortar locations and 25 online retailers named by the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative in its annual review of so-called “notorious markets.”
The U.S. government says sales of counterfeit goods at Pacific Mall are “sprawling and pervasive” and that vendors “operate largely with impunity (as) requests for assistance from local law enforcement have reportedly gone unanswered.”
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The new report says some of the counterfeit items available at the mall, including cosmetics, sunglasses and perfumes, can pose a risk to public health and safety.
Pacific Mall is the only Canadian market included on the list, though the report notes that one of the fastest-growing advertising networks that cater to online sellers of counterfeit goods is based in Canada.
Representatives of Pacific Mall were not immediately available for comment.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation