Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has avoided being named on a U.S. blacklist for sites hosting the sale of fake goods, a victory for the firm after lobbying hard to avoid inclusion on the list.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said, though, it was "increasingly concerned" about Alibaba's enforcement programs and warned it must make a greater effort to stop the sale of pirated and counterfeit products on its online platforms.
Inclusion on the annual list of the world's most "notorious markets" for sales of pirated and counterfeit goods, while not carrying direct penalties, would be a blow to Alibaba's efforts to shed perceptions its sites are riddled with fakes.
The firm has pushed hard over the last few months to avoid being named on the list, concerned it could drag down its share price after coming under renewed pressure this year over suspected counterfeits on its platforms.