Paul Laurenza Authors Law360 Article on FTC’s “Made in USA” Ad Policy

Paul M. Laurenza, Office Managing Member of the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office—whose practice includes representation of manufacturers, importers and retailers in advertising and marketing, customs and international trade matters—wrote an article, “Shedding Light on FTC’s ‘Made in USA’ Ad Policy”—published on November 1, 2013, on Law360.com. Law360 is an online news resource that provides news and analysis of business law on a daily basis.

Citing a recent proposed settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and EK Ekcessories Inc., Laurenza focuses on the FTC’s long-standing—but often misunderstood—enforcement policy on advertising products with U.S.-origin claims. To guide readers, Laurenza explains the difference between qualified and unqualified U.S-origin claims, identifies the various criteria necessary to make an unqualified claim and sheds light on the requirements for  similar-sounding claims (e.g. “Made in USA with foreign parts” and “Assembled in USA”).

Laurenza notes that, partly as a result of inaccurate media stories, many in the business community do not fully understand the strict requirements of the FTC’s “Made in USA” policy. For instance, he points out that the FTC’s requirements with respect to U.S-origin advertising claims differ from U.S. Customs laws governing country-of-origin marking requirements for imported products.

To read this article in its entirety, click here.