Examining Illicit Trade Challenges in the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a large-scale international development strategy that has facilitated infrastructure expansion and trade connectivity across many countries. The BRI projects have brought numerous benefits to beneficiary countries, spurring economic activity and boosting trade. However, as with other trade-facilitating innovations, there is a risk that the improved infrastructure, if not accompanied by appropriate monitoring and enforcement measures, will increase the potential for misuse by criminal actors engaged in counterfeit or other types of illicit trade. It is this risk of abuse that is the main focus of this report.