About the Made in USA List

American products are world renowned for their quality and craftsmanship. However, finding American products can be a challenge. The Buying American Blog’s Made in USA List provides a resource for anyone interested in buying American products, or just looking to discover hidden American gems. The claim made by each company is carefully checked before it makes the List. Read on to find out more about the Made in USA List.

What is Made in USA?

To represent American craftsmanship, a product must be made in the United States. However, there are different degrees to which products are made in the USA. For example, a pair of fine leather boots may be made by American craftsman from high-grade Italian leather. Another company may make boots in the USA from American-sourced leather. To reflect this, we take a “good-better-best” approach when deciding which companies and products make the List.

Good-Better-Best: Assembled in USA < Qualified Made in USA (i.e., from XX% of US components) < Made in USA!

The “Made in USA” label along with associated terms like “Assembled in USA” are defined and regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (see Complying with the Made in USA Standard). Only companies who follow these guidelines are eligible to be included in the Made in USA List.

How does a company or product make the Made in USA List?

To be included in the Made in USA List, a company must offer products that are at least Assembled in the USA. Emphasis is given to companies and products that are Made in the USA (e.g., all or virtually all US components).

Before being added, each company’s claims are carefully examined. Companies or products that make ambiguous or questionable claims (i.e., use “weasel words”) do not make the list. In the end, only those which live up to Buying American Blog standards are included.

Why include companies or products with qualified claims like “Assembled in the USA from 70% US components”?

Ideally, all products would be made in the USA from all US components. For many products, this is impossible. Some components and materials are not (yet!) made in the USA. Applying a strict purity test would ignore high quality products made by skilled American workers.

When a product is assembled in the US, American craftsmanship plays an important role in the final product. Also, an assembly plant must be built in the US and American workers employed. This is the minimal level required for consideration to be included in the Made in USA List.

Even better are products assembled in the USA from a percentage (such as 70%) of US-sourced components. For many companies dedicated to American manufacturing, a qualified Made in USA claim is the highest standard achievable due to the lack of domestic sources for specific components. Such products reflect American quality and craftsmanship. As these companies thrive, financial incentives build to bring the manufacture of those remaining components back to the USA.

If a company makes an unqualified claim to be “Made in USA,” all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of US origin. This is the highest standard a company can achieve. Buying American products supports the growth of American manufacturing— making more high quality unqualified “Made in USA” products possible!

Why would a company get dropped from the list?

The goal of Buying American Blog is to provide a Made in USA List that represents the best that American companies have to offer. To maintain this standard, a number of events may lead to a company or store being dropped from the List. The FTC strictly defines and regulated the meaning of “Assembled in USA” claims, qualified “Made in USA” claims, and unqualified “Made in USA” claims.

On rare occasions, companies fail to meet the standards laid out by the FTC. This may occur due to a change in suppliers or in manufacturing. These companies are dropped from the Made in USA List as soon as the change in status is discovered. Furthermore, significant levels of customer complaints may lead to a company or product being dropped. Finally, if a company goes out of business (or discontinues its website), it will be dropped. Ultimately, inclusion in the List is solely at the discretion of Buying American Blog.

More About the Made in USA List

The list constantly grows and changes. To be considered for the list, contact emily@buyingamericanblog.com.

Browse on over to the Made in USA List now.