The largest US business association is taking its fight against counterfeit goods to four Chinese provinces where many fakes are turned out around the clock, officials.
US Chamber of Commerce officials are also lobbying China's government to prosecute counterfeiting cases in criminal court rather than "administrative" court, where offenders pay a small fine and carry on churning out fake clothes, handbags and toys.
Jennifer Osika, a chamber director for China, told reporters at a briefing that the US business association is targeting four key Chinese provinces, where it hopes to enlist reputable local business leaders in the fight against illegal traders.
"It's been a successful effort because over the last year, the Chinese local business people are becoming more vocal about the need to protect, and the awareness has increased in China about the need to protect intellectual property," Osika said.
She said the chamber is planning to hold a "large summit" in China next year to address the hundred-billion-dollar trade in illicit goods, many of which are shipped to the United States and hidden in legal cargoes.
Initial chamber efforts have targeted China's Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, but it plans to broaden it outreach to two more provinces in coming months.
"This October, we'll be going to Zhejian and Fujian provinces to conduct similar seminars and again bringing in local business people," Osika stressed.
The chamber hopes honest business owners will help pressure the Chinese authorities to crack down on counterfeiting rings, partly to protect their own products from being ripped-off.
The problem is vast according to chamber officials, who cited cases of fake aeroplane and car parts, false drugs, cell phones, software, CDs, clothes and shoes.
America suffers 250 billion dollars in annual losses and 750,000 lost jobs due to global intellectual property theft, but nearly two-thirds of counterfeit goods seized at US ports are made in China, according to the chamber.
US business leaders and lawmakers often urge the administration of President George W. Bush to take a tougher stand against Chinese counterfeiting.
The Bush administration has warned it was considering bringing China before the World Trade Organisation for failing to enforce intellectual property laws, but it has yet to file such a complaint.
The chamber is focusing its global fight against counterfeiting on Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Korea.