Despite China's Rise not a Single Chinese Brand on Interbrand Global 2011 Top 100 List

While U.S. politicians ratchet up the threat of China to challenge U.S. capitalism and business, it is important to note that 49 out of the Interbrand Best 100 Global Brands 2011 list are U.S. firms and not a single Chinese brand made the coveted list. Marketing power house, Apple, led the Interbrand list with the largest annual change in brand value - surging 58%. Germany with respected brands like Mercedes, BMW and SAP is the closest runner up with 10 top global brands, while France and Japan share third place with 7 top global brands each. Time will tell when Geely which bought Volvo in 2010, BYD with investment by Warren Buffet, or Huawei will make the Interbrand Global Brand list. With such a formidable lead in global branding, U.S. politicians would better serve their constituents by focusing inward on how to invest in long-term R&D, primary - university Education, and Community Infrastructure to ensure American businesses remain competitive against global competition.

Local Chinese Clothing Retailers Copy Foreign Brands

To local Chinese living in Shang Di on the northern tip of Beijing, the new mall opening was a blessing. For four years residents have had to put up with long lines at the supermarket and little entertainment. The opening of Hualian Mall , the eighth Hualian Mall to open in Beijing alone, brought the first cinema, video arcade and mega shopping market to Shang Di. But during my first walk through the mall I couldn't help noticing dozens of local Chinese retailers knocking off established western brands. Here are some examples from the mall and down the road in nearby Wu Dao Kou.

Above the retail store scrambles the luxury car brand acronym BMW, which stands for Bavarian Motor Works, and inside the store a modified logo of the German car brand is on display. -Hualian Mall, Shang Di, Beijing

This product line of baggages are branded similarly to the luxury brand 'Hugo Boss', which was founded in Metzingen, Germany in 1923 by Hugo Ferdinand Boss. -Hualian Mall, Shang Di, Beijing

A hybrid knockoff of luxury brands Calvin Klein and Paul Smith, a posh Nottingham based UK brand. -located nearby Shang Di in Wu Dao Kou, Beijing

It should be noted that the Hualian Mall did contain a legitimate branch of the London based coffee powerhouse Costa Coffee. Within three months the Costa coffee shop was closed down, apparently not tailoring its beverages to the local tastes of Shang Di residents who are likely more accustomed to tea, or Tsingtao.