The next time you see a "Made in the USA" label on a product, you might want to think twice about its accuracy. The Federal Trade Commission has been cracking down on what it calls "deceptive" claims of products being manufactured in the U.S. that are actually made overseas. The agency has been pushing for more transparency against this kind of business practice and even dubbed July 2025 "Made in the USA" month. But why are companies doing this and how is the FTC trying to stop it?
Many companies place a "Made in the USA" label on their items (whether they are made in the U.S. or not) to entice buyers, according to the FTC. This label "provides consumers with confidence that when they buy something that says 'Made in the USA' they are actually supporting American workers, American manufacturers, and American communities," said FTC Chair Andrew N. Ferguson in a press release.
It appears that these labels do play a part in the kinds of products Americans buy. A "recent poll found that 61% of Americans stated that whether a product was 'Made in the USA' played a factor in their purchasing decisions," said the FTC, though the agency did not cite what poll it was referring to. Many Americans may "believe that American-made goods are higher quality and better for the environment than foreign-produced alternatives," which can influence which products the average consumer buys.
The agency is working to enforce its...
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