Alibaba Agrees to Block Sale of Dangerous Toys in US: CPSC

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 14 January 2015 09:54 IST
Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has agreed to prevent the sale of up to 15 illegal or dangerous toys in the United States, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) chairman said on Tuesday.

It is the first such agreement between the CPSC and a foreign company, CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye said on the sidelines of the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair.

"We're thrilled to cross beyond our borders and work with whomever we need to," Kaye said. The deal is not, however, enforceable.

Advertisement

The CPSC will give Alibaba, the world's largest e-commerce company, a list of between five and 15 children's toys it wants to prevent from entering the U.S. market. Around 90 percent of U.S. toy imports come from China, according to the commission.

Alibaba corporate affairs executive Jim Wilkinson said in a statement that the company would work "collaboratively with the chairman and his team to do everything possible to protect consumers".

Advertisement

Alibaba, which handles more e-commerce business than U.S. companies Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc combined, controls as much as 80 percent of the Chinese e-commerce market. Its initial public offering last year ranks as the world's biggest at $25 billion.

CPSC had not yet approached China's JD.com Inc - or other foreign e-commerce sites, Kaye said, but added: "It's coming. If we feel like it's a viable place to go, we'll go there."

Advertisement

Critics say Alibaba's size makes it hard to police.

"Alibaba has talked about getting all the defective stuff off (e-commerce platform) Taobao and that's likely a claim which is way bigger than is possible to be implemented," said James Feldkamp, CEO and co-founder of China-based consumer watchdog group Mingjian.

Advertisement

The agreement could nevertheless help Alibaba from a publicity standpoint, he added.

"It's saying, 'We're not looking to circumnavigate everywhere and flood the U.S. with a bunch of counterfeit garbage. We're another legitimate channel for U.S. consumers," he said.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Alibaba, Internet
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Vivo X300s Features Officially Confirmed; Will Feature 200-Megapixel Camera
  2. Oppo Find X9 Ultra Listed on BIS Database, Might Launch in India Soon
  3. Lava Bold N2 Pro 4G Will Launch in India on This Date: See Key Features
  4. Here's How Third Party Chatbots Might Work With Siri on iOS 27
  1. OnePlus Ace 6 Ultra Tipped to Launch in April, Could Rival Redmi K90 Ultra
  2. Oppo Find X9 Ultra Gets One Step Closer to Launching in India as Handset Surfaces on BIS Database
  3. Vivo X300s Specifications Officially Confirmed; Will Feature 200-Megapixel Main Camera and 7,100mAh Battery
  4. Lava Bold N2 Pro 4G India Launch Date Set for March 31, Company Reveals Key Specifications
  5. Apple's New Siri App on iOS 27 Supports Text and Voice Modes, Adds 'Extensions' for Third-Party Chatbots: Gurman
  6. Apple's First Foldable iPhone Could Be Company's Biggest Design Overhaul Yet: Mark Gurman
  7. Scientists Trace Solar Storm Origins to Hidden Layer Deep Inside the Sun
  8. Panchhi 2 OTT Release: When and Where to Watch Prince Kanwaljit Singh’s Thriller Online
  9. Khakee Circus Brings a Fun Cop vs Thief Chase to ZEE5 This April
  10. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Now Streaming on OTT: What You Need to Know
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.