Companies Pay to Settle Lawsuits Alleging They Falsely Listed Items as ‘Made in the USA’

The president recently directed officials to make sure such advertising was legitimate.

The Federal Trade Commission in Washington on Jan. 9, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Some companies have agreed to reimburse customers to settle allegations that they falsely advertised their products as having been made in the United States when they were not, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on April 14.

Americana Liberty and partner companies have agreed to pay $167,743 to customers who bought U.S. and other flags that were labeled as being “made in the USA” even though they were actually imported from China, according to government documents.

Those companies have also committed to labeling products as being made in the United States only if the final assembly or processing occurs within the country.

TouchTunes Music Co., which sells electronic dartboards, has agreed to pay $625,000 to customers and adhere to labeling rules, the FTC said.

The FTC had accused TouchTunes of marketing the dartboards as being made in the United States, even though many components, such as computer chips, were produced outside the country.

TouchTunes did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Oak Street Manufacturing Co., meanwhile, has pledged to provide $75,000 to people who bought its shoes and to follow labeling regulations, according to the FTC.

Officials said that the company, known as Oak Street Bootmakers, had listed products as being “handcrafted 100%” in the United States with “no pre-assembled components from overseas,” even though parts of the shoes were produced in factories in the Dominican Republic and Brazil.

“For over 15 years, we have passionately worked to preserve traditional American shoemaking,” a spokesperson for Oak Street Manufacturing Co. told The Epoch Times in an email. “As a small business that lacks the resources to withstand a prolonged review by a federal agency, this settlement allows us to continue our commitment to clear and accurate marketing and our relentless support of American shoemakers, American suppliers, and the customers we serve.”

Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement: “The FTC is committed to ensuring that ‘Made in the USA’ claims are truthful and trustworthy. We will robustly enforce the ‘Made in the USA’ standard so that the American people have confidence that their purchases of American-made products support American workers and manufacturing.”

The settlements came about one month after President Donald Trump signed an order stating that Americans have the right to clear, accurate information about products that claim to have been made in America. The order directed FTC officials to “prioritize enforcement actions in cases in which a seller’s or manufacturer’s claim that a product is ‘Made in America’ or ‘Made in the U.S.A.’, or any similar American-origin claims, constitutes a violation of law.”

A majority of respondents to a poll in 2025 said they are more likely to buy items labeled as having been made in America.