Approvals cover Ivanka-branded fashion gear, beauty services and voting machinesCompany linked to US president also wins trademarks for restaurant, bar and hotel services
Concerns have been raised about conflicts of interest in the White House following approval from the Chinese government for 18 trademarks to companies linked to President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump over the past two months.
Public records show China’s Trademark Office granted provisional approval in October for 16 trademarks to the company Ivanka Trump Marks, bringing to 34 the total number of trademarks China has approved this year.
The new approvals cover Ivanka-branded fashion gear including sunglasses, handbags, shoes and jewellery, as well as beauty services and voting machines.
The approvals came three months after Ivanka Trump announced she was dissolving her namesake brand to focus on government work.
China also granted provisional approval for two “Trump” trademarks to DTTM Operations, headquartered at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. They cover branded restaurant, bar and hotel services, as well as clothing and shoes.
The trademarks, which were all applied for in 2016, will be finalised if there is no objection during a 90-day comment period.
“These trademarks were sought to broadly protect Ms Trump’s name, and to prevent others from stealing her name and using it to sell their products,” Peter Mirijanian, a spokesman for Ivanka Trump’s ethics lawyer, said in an email.
