Baltimore CBP Seizes $1M in Counterfeit Stainless Steel Sinks

BALTIMORE – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized 2,990 stainless steel sinks, that if authentic would have an MSRP of more than $1 million, for displaying a counterfeit UPC shield design Wednesday in Baltimore.

The shipment of sinks arrived from Malaysia and was destined to an address in Maryland. CBP examined the shipment for Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties enforcement. During that examination, CBP officers discovered the UPC shield logo.

CBP officers and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) specialists verified the authenticity of the UPC shield logo with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the registered trademark holder, who determined the use of the logo to be unauthorized.

CBP seized the entire shipment of sinks as counterfeit for using registered markings without trademark holder’s authorization (19 CFR 133.21).

If authentic, the stainless steel sinks would have had a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of about $1.1 million.

“Customs and Border Protection will continue to work closely with our trade and consumer safety partners to seize counterfeit and inferior merchandise, especially those products that pose potential harm to American consumers, negatively impact legitimate business brand reputations, and potentially steal jobs from U.S. workers,” said Dianna Bowman, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Baltimore.

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program, and has made IPR enforcement a CBP Priority Trade Issue.

CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized a record number of goods that violated Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in FY2016.

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