OECD call for support – uniting against counterfeiting and illicit trade

From the outset, TFWA has been a firm supporter of the Duty Free World Council’s ‘Trusted, Transparent, Secure’ campaign, which demonstrates the industry’s zero tolerance approach to counterfeiting and illicit trade.

TFWA has attended several sessions at the OECD on this subject, ranging from the categories most affected by counterfeiting and illicit trade, to the source, including Free Trade Zones, and has now been approached by the OECD to request our assistance in gathering information on the impact on companies whose business is impacted by the trade in counterfeit products. 

Any assistance you can provide to OECD would be much appreciated. Please contact Sofia or Morgane from the OECD directly

A request from the OECD

The OECD, through its Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT), is currently undertaking a project examining quantitative linkages between illicit trade in counterfeits and value of firms impacted by counterfeiting. 

The current phase of the project is based primarily on the combination of two data sources: firm-level financial data and customs seizure data. The objective is to explore whether exposure to counterfeiting is associated with changes in firm value and business performance. While this approach provides a useful starting point, additional data sources and complementary methodologies may be explored in subsequent phases of the project to strengthen the evidence base and broaden the analysis. 

As a first step, the project involves a preliminary evidence-gathering phase aimed at reviewing the initial findings, identifying data gaps, and gathering insights on how counterfeiting affects legitimate businesses. Building on this work, the OECD intends to develop a broader analytical framework, drawing on additional datasets and methodological approaches, and ultimately publish a report contributing to a stronger empirical understanding of the economic impacts of counterfeiting on firms.

In this context, the OECD is interested in hearing from companies that may be willing to share experiences, evidence, or perspectives regarding: 

• The ways in which counterfeiting affects business performance, including sales, profitability, investment, employment, competitiveness, or firm value. 
• The channels through which counterfeiting may damage firm value and intangible assets, including brand equity, reputation, customer trust, loyalty, and innovation capabilities. 
• Whether counterfeiting-related issues have influenced discussions with investors, shareholders, or other stakeholders. 
• Whether certain brands or sectors appear more resilient to counterfeiting than others, and the factors that may explain such resilience. 
• Data sources, evidence, or methodological approaches that could help improve the measurement of counterfeiting's economic impacts on firms.

In terms of upcoming OECD meetings and events, we would like to inform you of the following opportunities for business engagement:

• An inaugural (hybrid) event to launch Phase 4 of the WP-CIT project on Countering Illicit Trade in Counterfeit Goods on Online Marketplaces (early/mid-November, date TBC)
• The next OECD Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT) will take place on 15 February 2027 at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris (with hybrid participation available)
• The 3rd OECD Forum on Countering Illicit Trade will take place on 16-17 February 2027 at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris.