Ensuring Truthful Advertising of Products Claiming to be Made in America
This Presidential Action establishes a policy to protect consumers and domestic manufacturers by requiring enforcement against fraudulent or misleading "Made in America" advertising claims, especially in the digital marketplace.
The order instructs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prioritize enforcement actions and consider regulations holding online marketplaces accountable for verifying origin claims.
Additionally, it directs agencies overseeing government contracts to review and verify American-origin claims for procured products, referring potential violators of the Buy American Act to the Department of Justice for action under the False Claims Act.
The Order concludes with standard general provisions detailing implementation subject to law and appropriations.
Arguments For
Protecting patriotic consumers who specifically seek to support domestic manufacturing by ensuring American-origin claims are substantiated.
Providing a competitive advantage to American businesses that manufacture products entirely or largely onshore by preventing fraud from foreign competitors misrepresenting their origin.
Directing the FTC to prioritize enforcement actions against deceptive claims and potentially issue regulations making online marketplaces responsible for verifying country-of-origin information.
Ensuring federal procurement adheres to 'Buy American Act' standards by mandating review and verification of origin claims for government contracts, with referrals for fraud to the Department of Justice.
Arguments Against
Potential for increased regulatory burden and compliance costs on online marketplaces and sellers needing to establish new verification procedures for country-of-origin claims.
Concerns regarding the scope and definition of "largely produced and manufactured in other countries" versus the strict "all, or virtually all" standard, leading to ambiguity in voluntary labeling guidance.
Creation of new enforcement priorities and potential litigation against businesses based on evolving interpretations of existing laws by the FTC.
The order explicitly states it does not create new substantive or procedural rights enforceable by any party against the government, which might limit recourse if implementation is insufficient.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
The President invokes constitutional and statutory authority to issue a binding directive. This opening formally establishes the executive order's legal basis for issuing the command that follows.
Section 1. Policy. Americans have a right to clear, accurate, substantiated, and accessible information regarding whether products advertised as “Made in America” are actually made in the United States. Protecting American consumers against fraudulent American-origin claims also benefits businesses that invest in American manufacturing and products.
Yet in the age of the modern digital marketplace, foreign manufacturers and sellers represent that their products are made in the United States to target patriotic consumers when, in fact, those products are largely produced and manufactured in other countries. Americans routinely rely on sellers’s “Made in America” or similar American-origin advertising when purchasing products from digital marketplaces. But American businesses building, growing, and manufacturing all, or virtually all, aspects of their products onshore are entitled to the undiluted branding benefits that come with supporting the American economy, and American citizens attempting to buy American products should have certainty as to what American-origin claims mean.
This section outlines the guiding policy objectives for the order.
It asserts that the American public deserves truthful information about whether products labeled "Made in America" genuinely originate in the U.S. This policy benefits domestic manufacturers by protecting them from unfair competition from foreign entities falsely claiming American origin, especially within complex online shopping environments.
Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shall, wherever appropriate, 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. In determining whether such claims constitute a violation of law, including an unfair or deceptive act or practice, the FTC shall, as needed, consult with other executive departments and agencies (agencies) with subject-matter expertise with respect to the relevant products.
(b) The FTC shall consider issuing proposed regulations providing that the failure of an online marketplace to establish procedures for verifying country-of-origin claims may constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(c) In consultation with the Chairman of the FTC, all agencies with oversight of country-of-origin labeling shall consider promulgating regulations that promote voluntary country-of-origin labeling for products made or manufactured in the United States. Such agencies shall consult with one another, as appropriate, to ensure that American businesses receive consistent guidance on voluntary country-of-origin labeling.
(d) All agencies overseeing Government-wide acquisition contracts, any Multiple Award Schedule, or any other Government-wide indefinite delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts shall periodically review and verify any “Buy American Act”, “Country of Origin USA”, or similar American-origin claims for products acquired through these contracts. For any contractors or vendors found to misrepresent an American-origin status of any product sold to the Government, the relevant agency shall remove the products from Government procurement availability and refer the relevant contractors or vendors to the Department of Justice, which may pursue actions under the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729 et seq.).
This section details the enforcement mechanisms.
The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must prioritize enforcement against deceptive 'Made in America' claims, consulting other agencies for specialized knowledge.
The FTC is also directed to consider making it an unfair practice for online marketplaces to fail to establish procedures for verifying origin claims.
Furthermore, agencies overseeing labeling must develop regulations promoting consistent, voluntary labeling for domestically made products.
Finally, agencies handling government contracts must regularly verify 'Buy American' claims, removing non-compliant products and referring violators to the Department of Justice for potential False Claims Act prosecution.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Federal Trade Commission.
These are standard administrative clauses limiting the scope of the order.
The directive does not impact the existing legal authority of executive departments or the budgetary functions of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Implementation must comply with existing laws and available funding.
Crucially, the order states it does not create any new enforceable legal rights for private parties against the government.
The FTC is assigned responsibility for covering the costs associated with publishing this executive order.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 13, 2026.
This signifies the signing authority, the location, and the date the presidential action was formally issued.
Donald J. Trump signed the order on March 13, 2026, from the White House.
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