FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Paul Garaghan--P894219

Paul Garaghan
9103 Brierly Road
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

May 6, 1997

Federal Trade Commission
Washington, D.C.

"Made in USA" Product Label Standards

This opinion relates to the FTC's current consideration/proposal of new guidelines for products to qualify for the "Made in USA" label.

One of the label's principal purposes is to inform American and other CONSUMERS that goods were manufactured in the USA and use components produced in the USA. Clearly consumers, such as I, expect that this label will be factual and not nisleading. Our purchase decisions often hinge on such certifying information. Thus a public trust is involved.

The “Made in USA” label should only be affixed to products that are totally (100 percent) assembled in the USA from components made in this country.

This can set a standard and an incentive for dometic producers for sales will reward such a label. The FTC’s first obligation is to the USA’s consumers, secondly to full-fledged, domestic producers. This should not conflict with trade pacts.

IF it is UNAVOIDABLY NECESSARY to lower the “Made in USA” standard - and I do not see how it can be - the label should be precise, i.e. 20 percent or less of the product's components are made in other nation(s), which must be specified. The components should not exceed the 20 percent total or level.

Paul Garaghan