What Conflicts? Ivanka Trump Scores New Foreign Trademarks for Her Brand

Elect Trump, they said. He’s going to drain the swamp, they said.

We’re over a year into what is only his first term and the swamp has only gotten more swampy, packed with snapping, biting, stinging swamp critters.

And no, it’s not just a case of President Trump’s inability to adequately drain the Washington D.C. swamp that’s causing it to overflow, to the point of being ankle deep down Main Street, USA. He’s actively working to stock the swamp.

Those of us who were conscious of the man’s background and weren’t so gullible as to be convinced that a morally bankrupt leopard can change its spots did all we could to reason with Trump supporters during the primaries, but they wouldn’t listen. That snake oil – taken from the finest swamp snakes, no doubt – was too enticing.

We’ve been through exhibits A to Z. I think today’s offering is about exhibit I-12.

So let’s have a little talk about nepotism, cronyism, and all the questionable deals that are born from a union of those two distasteful conditions.

When Donald Trump took office, he brought along his most-adored child, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner.

We’ll shelve talk of Kushner’s mountain of hinky contacts and behavior, as it pertains to his struggling family empire, for now, so we can talk about Ivanka Trump’s personal wealth.

A considerable chunk of the Trump wealth comes from trademarks and licensing deals.

That’s awesome news for the Trump bottom line. For Ivanka, in particular, it was recently announced that she’s won new foreign trademarks from the Philippines and China.

From the Associated Press:

On Sunday, China granted the First Daughter’s company final approval for its 13th trademark in the last three months, trademark office records show. Over the same period, the Chinese government has granted Ivanka Trump’s company provisional approval for another eight trademarks, which can be finalized if no objections are raised during a three-month comment period.

Taken together, the trademarks could allow her brand to market a lifetime’s worth of products in China, from baby blankets to coffins, and a host of things in between, including perfume, make-up, bowls, mirrors, furniture, books, coffee, chocolate and honey. Ivanka Trump stepped back from management of her brand and placed its assets in a family-run trust, but she continues to profit from the business.

That would be the China that just struck a deal with President Trump to save the Chinese tech company, ZTE, in spite of warnings from Congress that they posed an espionage risk.

ZTE violated U.S. sanctions by selling equipment to Iran and North Korea.

In the sanctions-breaking deal, ZTE would pay a fine of approximately $1 billion, hire American compliance officers, and oust their previous management.

Trump moving against the advice of Congress and the intelligence community isn’t a new thing. And no, we probably shouldn’t look sideways at the fact that MCG Group, a state-owned Chinese construction company, will be developing a theme park in Indonesia, featuring Trump-licensed properties, such as a luxury hotel and golf course.

But back to Ivanka…

Is she using her position as a senior adviser to her dad to enrich herself?

Well, since taking office, the Trump brand, and the Ivanka Trump brand have pursued trademarks in dozens of foreign nations. Some might look at that and consider it ethically-challenged, given that the draw to grant those trademarks, in order to curry favor with the sitting U.S. president could be great.

Is this a violation of the emoluments clause, which bars presidents from accepting gifts from foreign nations, without approval from Congress?

Can these new trademarks for Ivanka Trump be seen as conflicts of interest?

The answer is: Maybe.

More approvals are likely to come. Online records from China’s trademark office indicate that Ivanka Trump’s company last applied for trademarks — 17 of them — on Mar. 28, 2017, the day before she took on a formal role at the White House. Those records on Monday showed at least 25 Ivanka Trump trademarks pending review, 36 active marks and eight with provisional approval.

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s global brand database also shows that her company, Ivanka Trump Marks LLC, won three trademarks in the Philippines after her father took office. Two of them cover clothing, including lingerie and baby clothes, were filed on Feb. 8, 2017 and registered in June and November. The third, filed on Mar. 1, 2017, covers clothing and footwear and was registered in July.

China apparently has a problem with “trademark squatting,” where copycats can scoop up rights to a brand’s name, hence the reason some companies seek trademarks from China.

I guess that could be one explanation for the rush to trademark her good in China.

Another maybe.

Ivanka Trump’s brand isn’t really a retail standout in China, however, the bulk of Ivanka Trump imports to the U.S. are from China.

MCGA.

There is also an issue with Ivanka Trump’s Chinese suppliers.

A year ago Monday, three men working for China Labor Watch, a New York-based non-profit, were arrested while investigating labor abuses at Ivanka Trump suppliers in China. After thirty days in detention, they were released on bail, but continue to live under police surveillance.

Li Qiang, the group’s founder, said Monday that he hopes bail will be lifted soon and that the case will not go to trial.

Which leads to the question again, why are we being so lenient with China?

Oh, yes, as President Trump said – his “relationship” with Xi Jinping, Chinese president and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

I’m sure that’s working out great for somebody (even if only the Trumps).