FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Jeffery D. Glasser--P894219 May 17, 1997 Federal Trade Commission -------------- To Whom It May Concern: I'd like to comment on your proposal to alter the current parameters of labels that say "Made In USA." I bought a pair of New Balance tennis shoes because they were advertised as being "Made In USA", but was disappointed to learn that they weren't really made here and that my money was taken under false pretenses. If a product consists of materials that were mined, grown, processed, manufactured, and assembled in the United States of America, then and only then is that product "Made In USA." If it consists of components that were manufactured in the USA and assembled elsewhere or vice versa (regardless of the proportions), then the only truthful designation is "Made In USA and Taiwan" (for example). A label that says "Made In USA" implies exclusivity; any foreign content renders it deceptive and dishonest. It doesn't surprise me that dishonest merchants would distort the truth to make a buck, but one would hope that our government wouldn't be a willing accomplice. Cordially, Jeffery D. GlasserJeffrey D. Glasser |