USTR Removes Tencent's WeChat from 2024 Notorious Markets List on January 8 After Two Years of Inclusion

Jan 9, 2025, 02:22 AM

On January 8, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) published its 2024 Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy Report, which notably removed Tencent's WeChat from the list. This marks the first time WeChat has not been included in the report since it was added in 2022 and 2023. The decision comes shortly after the Department of Defense (DOD) designated Tencent, along with other Chinese companies, as 'Chinese military companies.' The contrasting actions by U.S. agencies highlight a complex relationship with major Chinese firms, as Tencent was recently noted for being placed on one list and removed from another within days.