Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) commented after the U.S. Office of the Trade Representatives (USTR) today released its 2016 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets report.

Michael Evans, president of Alibaba Group, said, "We are very disappointed by the USTR’s decision to include Taobao on its “notorious markets” list, as we are far more effective and advanced in IPR protection than when the USTR took us off the list four years ago. The decision ignores the real work Alibaba has done to protect IP rights holders and assist law enforcement to bring counterfeiters to justice. The more than 100,000 brands that operate on Alibaba’s marketplaces cannot all be wrong – they are a clear demonstration of the trust that rights holders place in us. We question whether the USTR acted based on the actual facts or was influenced by the current political climate."