United States Presidential daughter Ivanka Trump recently received five trademarks from China. The trademarks were granted in the midst of trade talks between Beijing and Washington to come up with a deal to settle the bitter trade war.
The Chinese government granted Ms. Trump's company with preliminary approval for five additional trademarks for this month. It is important to note that Ms. Trump's company have already scored a number of trademark approvals from the Chinese government in the past few months. These trademarks approvals were given despite the fact that China and the United States are embroiled in a bitter trade war that has seen billions of dollars of tariffs levied on various imports.
The Chinese government approved four trademark applications from Ms. Trump's company on Sunday. An additional fifth trademark application was approved on Jan. 6, according to information from an online trademark office records.
The four trademarks that were approved on Sunday include child care centers, wedding dresses, and sunglasses. The trademark that was approved on Jan. 6 was for art valuation services, brokerage, and charitable fundraising. Documents revealed that these trademark applications were filed in 2016 and 2017. If no objections will be raised, the approval will be finalized after 90 days.
Since his father assumed the highest position in the United States government, Ms. Trump started to expand its intellectual property holdings, a practice that has been flagged by many observers as it might raise ethical concerns. Some critics have noted that by currying favors from a foreign government to approve a valuable intellectual property right could put the White House in pressure when it comes to negotiations with these governments. Some observers have also noted that expanding the Trump family's portfolio of intellectual properties could open the way for various lucrative business opportunities once President Donald Trump leaves office.
In a statement to the U.S. News, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics spokesperson Jordan Libowitz said, "The sheer number of foreign trademarks Ivanka Trump has gotten while working in the White House would be troubling enough, but the fact that she just got one for charitable fundraising is especially troubling."
Due to pressure from various ethics group, Ivanka Trump closed her fashion brand in July 2018. Despite criticisms about, Ms. Trump's representatives argue that trademark filings are common and it is a part of normal business practice. The application for a particular trademark is needed in order to protect copycats from capitalizing on Ms. Trump's fame, according to her representatives.
