Ivanka Trump got 16 New Trademarks from China

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The senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump got initial approval from China last month. The approval includes business trademarks for voting machines. She announced in July about shutting down her fashion brand. But she could transfer the trademarks and even re-launch her fashion business. It was reported by The Washington Post that she planned to continue seeking trademarks. The chief White House ethics lawyer for former U.S president George W. Bush, Richard Painter informed the publisher that she’s dissolving the company now, but is continuing to get trademarks so she can sell her stuff all around the world.

This news raised concerns regarding the Trumps mixing private businesses with their responsibility to represent American taxpayers as they negotiate with the same interests they deal with in the White House. Business arrangements with foreign entities that profit the Trumps could potentially function as kickback while nation’s angle for favorable treatment or deals from the U.S administration. The public will continue to have to ask whether President Trump has made foreign policy decisions in the interest of his and his family’s businesses since Trump retained her foreign trademarks. Granting the latest trademarks could be viewed as a way for China to curry favor with the Trump administration amid a trade war between the two nations.

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018

Ivanka Trump’s business won approval in May for at least 5 Chinese trademarks just days before the president announced plans to help lift U.S sanctions on China cell-phone manufacturer ZTE. Last year, she also got 3 new Chinese trademarks on the same day she dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ivanka Trump’s business applied for the latest trademarks in 2016. These trademarks include shoes, wedding dresses, jewelry, nursing homes, sausage casing, and voting machines. Most of the Chinese trademarks she has obtained will be active until the year 2028.