EU's Stance On Brand Protection In Southeast Asia

The EU Commission Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List 2025 Report was released in May. They released their last report in 2022. It is the EU equivalent of the USTR Special 301 Report. This article covers the trademark counterfeiting issues identified.

The report suggests that SE Asia continues to face challenges with counterfeiting and online piracy, both through physical marketplaces and digital platforms. The region is cited for lax enforcement, presence of large-scale physical markets dealing in counterfeit goods, and insufficient intermediary liability. Countries vary in enforcement capacity and policy development, with notable improvement in some (e.g., Thailand, Indonesia) and persistent problems in others (e.g., Vietnam, Cambodia).