The Ministry of Commerce told local manufactures of certain rubber gloves to be alert for a US investigation involving intellectual property rights.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has decided to start an investigation into certain types of purple protective gloves.

The products at issue are made of natural or synthetic rubber and used primarily for medical and scientific purposes.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Kimberly-Clark Corp and Safeskin Corp in October this year.

The complaint said importation of purple protective gloves infringed on certain registered trademarks owned by Safeskin.

The complainants request that the ITC issue a general exclusion order and permanently cease orders on the involved imports.

The ITC has identified five US importers and one Malaysian producer as respondents in this investigation.

Although local producers of the purple protective gloves are not directly identified, the ministry urged them to prepare for the investigation since the complaint alleged them as the original providers.

If the ITC makes a ruling in favour of the two US companies, all of the involved products will not be allowed in the United States.

The related companies were advised to work with the China Chamber of Commerce of Health & Medical Products Importers & Exporters to prepare for lawsuits.

The ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation in early January.

Last year, China exported 700 million pieces of gloves made of natural or synthetic rubber valued at US$37.26 million, according to customs statistics.

Although the actual proportion of products involved in the investigation was not available, professionals say it is small.

(China Daily December 3, 2003)