FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Frederick B. Dent--P894219 MAYFAIR MILLS. INC. 1885 HAYNE STREET, ARCADIA, S.C. 29320-9999 FREDERICK B. DENT May 12, 1997 Made in the USA Policy Comment Dear Commissioners, I am strongly opposed to the proposal for liberalizing the criteria for the use of the “Made in the USA” label on American products. With an overall trade deficit of $166.6 billion in 1996 our national policy must be to reduce this tremendous outflow of our national resources. No nation has ever had such a deficit to contend with. The proposed liberalization of the criteria for use of the "Made in the USA" label works directly opposite to this essential national policy. Manufacturing employment is a vital element in our national economy. A 1993 study by the Economic Policy institute on the "employment multipliers" reveals that the average manufacturing job generates 4-1/2 times as many secondary jobs as does the average retail job and almost 3 times as many secondary jobs as a job in the personal and business service sectors ... From 1979 thru March 1997 we unfortunately have lost 2,824,000 manufacturing jobs, or 13% of the total. The proposed liberalization of the criteria for the use of the “Made in the USA” label would contribute to the loss of essential US manufacturing jobs. The value of the label “Made in the USA” has been created over generations of American workers by their skilled, diligent efforts. Our country has an obligation to these workers to preserve this intrinsic value for them rather than to diluting it through liberalizing the criteria for use of the label “Made in the USA” which would transfer a portion of the value to foreign workers. An important responsibility of the FTC is seeing that the American consumer has the benefit of truth in labeling. They deserve to know which products are truly “Made in the USA”. Liberalization of the criteria for the use of the label “Made in the USA” works contrary to the FTC's carrying out its truth in labeling responsibilities. Please do not favor self seeking interests with dilution of the criteria for the use of the “Made in the USA” label. Such action would violate our national interest, devalue the efforts of generations of American workers and tend to mislead the American consumer. Sincerely yours, Frederick B. Dentbs
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