The Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to eight companies, accusing seven of falsely marketing products as “Made in the USA” and an eighth of running the same play under “Made in Texas.” The products at issue: drums, industrial laser machinery, coordinate measuring machines, and e-cigarettes. The named recipients include A&F Drum Company, Z-Tech Advanced Technologies, Vtron, Helmel Engineering Products, NebTech, Lucky Bar Holdings, and My Vape Order.
A warning letter doesn’t carry the weight of a lawsuit, but it’s a formal signal. Such actions typically cite Section 5 of the FTC Act and Section 45a, the statute that specifically governs U.S.-origin labeling. No judge is assigned yet, and no consent decree, a court-enforceable settlement, sits on the table for these eight. The agency has already shown them what waits if they ignore it.
That threat traces to Executive Order 14392, which President Trump signed on March 13, directing the FTC to prioritize “Made in America” enforcement. The agency cashed that mandate in April, when TouchTunes Music Company agreed to pay $625,000 over electronic dartboards built with imported chips and cameras.
Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige says the agency will “hold accountable any company that undermines Americans’ trust.” Eight companies just got the warning. Fix it, or join TouchTunes.
James Okafor