US President Donald Trump was granted initial approval on dozens of new trademarks in China because they met legal standards, a senior Chinese commercial official said on Friday.
China's trademark office in recent weeks greenlighted 38 trademark applications linked to Trump, giving the US president and his family protection were they to develop the "Trump" brand in the market, Reuters reported.
The ties between politics and business have, however, prompted concerns from politicians and rights groups who say the president could face potential conflicts of interest related to the extensive business affairs of his family. Some US lawmakers have raised questions about whether Trump's position as president could prompt preferential treatment for his businesses. The trademarks, mostly variations in English and Chinese on the name "Donald Trump", were given preliminary approval in two lists published by the trademark office on February 27.
They cover business areas, including branded spas, massage parlors, golf clubs, hotels, insurance, finance and real-estate companies, retail shops, restaurants and bodyguards. Trump's lawyers applied for the trademarks in April last year, mostly registered to "Donald J. Trump" and listing to the address of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York.
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