Illicit trade in counterfeit and pirated goods damages economic growth and can harm individual and collective health and safety; fuels corruption; undermines sound public governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government; and can ultimately threaten political stability. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated illicit trade, alarming law enforcement in many parts of the world.
To deal with this risk in an effective way, we need more information on its scale, scope and impact. This is precisely the purpose of this joint study by the OECD and the EUIPO, which sheds new light on the misuse of containerised maritime transport for trade in fake goods.
We are very pleased that our two organisations were able to co-operate to develop this solid and unique evidence-based research. We are confident that the results will facilitate the development of innovative policy options to respond to the challenges of trade that misuses containerised maritime transport fake goods, and consequently to promote clean trade in the post-COVID recovery.
Christian Archambeau,
Executive Director,
EUIPO
Elsa Pilichowski,
Director,
OECD, Public Governance Directorate