Trump's Chinese Trademarks

China has granted preliminary approval for 38 new Trump trademarks, paving the way for President Donald Trump and his family to potentially develop a host of branded businesses from hotels and golf clubs to bodyguard and concierge services, public documents show.

Trump's lawyers in China applied for the marks in April 2016, as Trump railed against China at campaign rallies, accusing it of currency manipulation and stealing U.S. jobs. Critics maintain that Trump's swelling portfolio of China trademarks raises serious conflict of interest questions.

This is what makes it a little, well, suspicious:

China already registered one trademark to the president, for Trump-branded construction services on Feb. 14, the result of a 10-year legal battle that turned in Trump's favor after he declared his candidacy.

I don't know how common it is in China to take out trademarks that one doesn't intend to use. If China allows trademarks solely to prevent others from using them, then trademarking his name for "escort services" may be a wise idea. Even if "Trump hookers" is enough to make one throw up in one's mouth, a little.

However, the rapidity at which the Chinese granted all of the trademark applications apparently is a little out of the ordinary. That raises some questions, which bear being looked into by those who do that sort of work.