every product out there is copied. there is a company making chainsaws that parts directly interchange with Stihl.
And one of the components to blame is the US consumer who wants everything NOW and CHEAP.
I learned while working for a company that did manufacturing in China that they are very good at knocking off products, but typically do so with inferior materials and processes. Still, along with a huge labor force there is a lot of talent, and they are not stupid. They could do all the engineering required if given the time, but its easier to skip that step, "misappropriate" IP, and rush a product to market just to start making money. It really comes down to a matter of business ethics, and not all people in all places share the same standards.
Another thing I learned years ago is that
most of the time you get what you pay for. Consumers who buy based on price alone have contributed significantly to this problem; but so has the disposable nature of most products. Use it up, throw it out. Doesn't have to last forever like the products your parents or grandparents bought because it's cheap enough to be replaced and has no intrinsic value. But American consumers could really make the trade war sting by consciously considering a product's country of origin before deciding which product to buy.