FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning Jeff L. Fiedler--P894219 FAST GRAPHIC FOOD & ALLIED SERVICE TRADES JEFFREY L. FIEDLER MARK A ANDERSON July 30, 1997 Office of the Secretary RE: "Made in USA Policy Comment," FTC Rule No. P894219 Dear Members of the Commission: The Food and Allied Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO (FAST) is opposed to the adoption of the "Proposal Guides for the Use of U.S. Origin claims" as published in the Federal Register on May 7, 1997. FAST affiliates represent hundreds of thousands of workers who are employed producing, distributing and selling U.S. made goods. As both workers and consumers these members understand the importance and value of the "Made in the USA" label. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposal, if implemented, would dilute the integrity of the "Made in the USA" label and deceive consumers by permitting products with significant foreign content to use this valuable mark. It would also provide further incentive to U.S. producers to source inputs offshore to the detriment of domestic employment. We urge the FTC to reconsider this proposal and maintain and codify the existing “all or virtually all" standard as the appropriate way of preventing "unfair or deceptive acts or practices." Current practice is flexible and does nothing to prevent sellers of products made with some foreign components or labor from informing consumers of their products' U.S. content. Such qualified claims can give consumers important information that can be used in purchasing decisions, without infringing on the truthfulness of the "Made in the USA" label. It is clear from the FTC's extensive review of this issue, that the "Made in the USA" label is important for consumers and producers alike. Consumers, who want the necessary information to support, through their purchases, the domestic economy and U.S. jobs value it highly. Producers, particularly in an increasingly globalized economy, uniformly understand its distinction as a marketing tool. To weaken the existing standard would be a great disservice to the American public. Sincerely, Jeff L. FiedlerJeff L. Fiedler
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