Posts Tagged ‘Made in China’

Buy Less and Buy American for the Holidays and Beyond

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021

Americans are already feeling the effects of supply chain shortages even before the traditional holiday shopping season starts on Back Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  Ads by retailers are advising consumers to do their holiday shopping early to avoid not being able to get the items they want to give as presents.  Even if you buy early, holiday shopping won’t be easy this year. Since the supply chain shortage is predicted to last well into next year, the solution is to buy less and buy American.

In the article “It’s time for Americans to buy less stuff” that appeared on Vox October 21, 2021, Terry Nguyen wrote: “Instead of opting to order our Christmas presents early, perhaps now is the time to reconsider America’s great shopping addiction.”  He asks, “When the stuff we want is so hard to get ahold of, why go to such great lengths to buy it?” He opines, “Consumers have the option to not order items manufactured overseas, to source things locally from small businesses or artisans. We also have a choice that eliminates the potential for shipping or supply chain mishaps: We can just buy less.”

The rest of the article reveals that his motivation for the “buy less” recommendation is based on his concern for the environment.  He comments, “We know that our collective consumption of consumer goods, from the creation of plastic toys to the fossil fuels that ship them to our homes, isn’t good for the environment.”  He points out “The higher-income consumers among us use far more resources than the less well-off and are responsible for influencing shopping norms at large.” He asks, “Must we continue to drown in our unlimited and unfettered need for more stuff, or could we start buying less?”

Because Chinese products are so cheap, we’ve become a nation that throws things away instead of fixing them.  When small appliances cost so little, we buy a new one instead of getting the item fixed.  We are constantly bombarded with ads encouraging us to buy the newest version of a product to keep up with the latest features. Our closets and dressers become stuffed with the latest trends in clothes, shoes, and accessories.  Adopting a personal philosophy to buy less would have personal benefits in addition to environmental and societal benefits.    

Nguyen writes, “On a recent podcast, New York Times opinion writer (and Vox co-founder) Ezra Klein encouraged listeners not to think of their consumption decisions as individual or as only affecting themselves. Rather, they serve as mechanisms for ‘social, political, and moral contagion.’”

It’s not just a question of how much to buy; it’s also a question of what to buy and where you buy it. Nguyen stated,  “About 70 percent of the US economy, after all, stems from consumer spending.” Therefore, the choices we make as consumers affects our whole economy.

As a result of the shortages experienced during the early stages of the COVID pandemic, consumers are more interested in buying American, According to a June 2020 study cited in USA Today, the results of a poll by FTI Consulting showed that “40% of Americans are no longer interested in buying products that are stamped with “Made in China. Nearly 80% are now willing to pay higher prices to companies that close their Chinese factories.”  

The results of a survey conducted last summer by the Reshoring Institute showed that nearly 70% of Americans prefer “Made in USA” products and over 50% would be willing to pay more for American-made products. 

Many people may say, “I can’t find American-made products to buy.”  However, as more and more consumers choose to buy American, there are more and more products available that are “Made in USA.”  When I attended the first “Made in America” trade show held in October 2019 in Indianapolis, IN, I was amazed at the variety of products on display at the show.  It was a pleasure to see American made bedding, mattresses, furniture, rugs, draperies, flatware, dinnerware, cook ware, cabinets, and other kitchen goods. These are all industries that some said were lost forever.  There were also bicycles, sports equipment, tools, and children’s toys, clothing, cleaning products, skin care and makeup, specialty foods, and tools, toys. 

While there were the more traditional plastic, rubber, and metal fabricators that exhibit at shows like WESTEC, FABTECH, and Design2Part shows, there were also companies that probably don’t exhibit at traditional trade shows, including a company that builds roller coasters. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting My Pillow’s founder and President, Mike Lindell, after he was interviewed by radio talk show host Mike Gallagher in a studio set up on the show floor.

I had the pleasure of participating in a panel featuring the following women business owners: linens. 

  • Barbara Creighton, CEO Sarati International, Inc. — offers custom formulation formulations and private label skin care products.
  • Beverlee Dacey, owner of Amodex Products — Ink and Stain Remover liquid solution
  • Connie Sylvester, owner of ARM-LOC — producer of the ARM-LOC Water Rescue Innovation that slides onto the victim’s forearm and locks into place for a rescuer to pull the victim to safety
  • Leigh Valentine, founder of Leigh Valentine’s Beauty — offers high quality skin care, wellness and beauty products that are clinically proven

At the show, I also met the Regional Sales Manager of the Made in America store, which has a store located in Elma, NY that features over 9,000 Made in USA products. In addition, there are hundreds of products that can be purchased online at their website. 

In addition, you can also find the names of companies that make products in America at the website of The Made in America Movement.  You can search by category, such as automotive, beauty and skin care, children, clothing – men, clothing – women, footwear, home goods, kitchen, pets, etc.  

The above resources should help you be able to buy more “Made in USA” products. I encourage you to choose to buy more American-made products in the future.

 After the 2019 Made in America show, the Made in America company began publishing a weekly newsletter highlighting companies making their products in America.  I was very disappointed that the 2020 show scheduled for Detroit, MI and the 2021 show scheduled in Louisville, KY had to be canceled because of the COVID pandemic.  I am looking forward to attending the 2022 show in Louisville, Kentucky on Oct. 6-9, 2022. Put the date on your calendar and plan to attend.

When we choose to buy “Made in China,” we create jobs in China, cause job loss in the United States, and provide China the money to build up their military. When we choose to buy “Made in USA,” you can be sure you’re getting American quality and not a cheap, foreign knock-off. Buying American increases the demand for domestic products, which creates more higher paying jobs in America, and puts more money into the national budget. In addition, every manufacturing job generates several other jobs that support the primary manufacturing employee. It also reduces our imports and encourages more exports, which would reduce our trade deficit and reestablish balance in American trade. Most importantly, we reduce our overdependence on China every time we choose to buy American. We cannot remain a free nation if we are not self sufficient in making the products needed for the health, safety, and national defense of our country.

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COOL Online Act Benefits Consumers Better than Shop Safe Act

Monday, October 4th, 2021

As more and more American consumers turn to buying products online instead of in person at brick-and-mortar stores, they become increasingly vulnerable to counterfeit goods and are unable to determine where the products have been made.  Country of Origin information is missing from the major online platforms so consumers are unable to fellow Americans by choosing to “Buy American” for products sold online.  Without knowing Country of Origin, they are not able to boycott buying products made in China by slave labor or protest the ethnic cleansing of the Uyghurs by the Chinese government. 

Over the last two years, a few Congressional Representatives and Senators have introduced bills in Congress to address these problems and protect consumers. This year, H. R. 3429, the Shop Safe Act of 2021, was introduced on May 20, 2021 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Internet Chairman Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Internet Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Representative Ben Cline (R-VA).

Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE) also introduced S. 1843, the Shop Safe Act of 2021, in the Senate on May 26, 2021. These bills would supposedly protect consumers by stopping the online sale of harmful counterfeit products.

The Press Release issued by the sponsors on May 20, 2021, states: “The SHOP SAFE Act will:

  • Establish trademark liability for online marketplace platforms when a third-party sells a counterfeit product that poses a risk to consumer health or safety and that platform does not follow certain best practices;
  • Incentivize online platforms to establish best practices such as vetting sellers to ensure their legitimacy, removing counterfeit listings, and removing sellers who repeatedly sell counterfeits; and
  • Call for online marketplaces to take steps necessary to prevent the continued sale of counterfeits by the third-party seller or face contributory liability for their actions.”

This sounds good, but the online platform has to rely on the integrity of the distributor or manufacturer in stating that the product is not counterfeit.  I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t have any confidence in China companies adhering to the “honor system.” Other concerns I have:  Does someone have to report a counterfeit product to the online platform?  How are counterfeit products identified?  Who investigates the charge? What proof has to be provided to prove a product is counterfeit?

Recently, the directors of US Inventor, Inc sent out an email to their supporters saying, “Big Tech is trying to pull a fast one again… This legislation grants immunity for trademark infringement to online selling platforms like Amazon, provided that their Chinese suppliers ‘attest’ that they ‘have taken reasonable steps to verify the authenticity of the goods’ and ‘agree not use a counterfeit mark’. Seriously…Congress is offering up a proposal to waive liability for Amazon based on their implementation of an “honor system” for their Chinese suppliers!”

I can understand the skepticism of US Inventors because one of the co-sponsors, Rep. Isa) was a co-sponsor of the America Invents Act of 2011 and two other co-sponsors voted in favor of the America Invents Act.  Readers of my articles are familiar with the harm caused by this Act.

US Inventors urged supporters not to believe the hype, stating:

  • “The SHOP SAFE Act of 2021 is HAZARDOUS to inventors, entrepreneurs, and small business.
  • The SHOP SAFE Act HURTS, not helps, intellectual property owners.” The SHOP SAFE Act limits your ability to protect your IP online.
  • The SHOP SAFE Act makes protecting your brand online harder not easier.
  • The SHOP SAFE Act lets the platforms off the hook for their misdeeds.
  • The SHOP SAFE Act hurts small business

They suggest asking yourself: “When was the last time you saw huge corporations and big special interests all support a bill containing MORE (not less) regulation? Why would the giant platforms who make more money from counterfeiting online like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Wish hail the SHOP SAFE Act as a cure?”

They conclude that the Shop Safe Act “does not fix the real problem” and “doesn’t close the loopholes.” Instead, “It adds a “safe harbor” for online marketplaces that lets them off the hook for legal liability.”  They say “The SHOP SAFE Act gives the online platforms and the counterfeiters MORE LOOPHOLES!  It’s “best practices” have already been tried and failed to stem the tide of pirated goods sold on sites like Amazon and eBay.”

A far better bill to protect consumers was S. 3707, the COOL Online Act, introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin on May 13, 2020, and cosponsored by Rick Scott (R=FL), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA, and Christopher Murphy (D-CT).  While it wasn’t voted on in the 116th Congress, the provisions were included in Section 2510 of the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (S. 1260) passed on June 8, 2021 by the Senate.

The National Law Review wrote:  “The Act as passed by the Senate is virtually unchanged from the proposed legislation that we reported on. As a recap, the legislation would require that a wide variety of imported commodities sold online be accompanied by the following disclosures on the website ‘in a conspicuous place’:

  • The country of origin of the product, consistent with U.S. Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) marking requirements; and
  • The country of origin in which the seller is located (and, if applicable, the location of any parent corporation)
  • Further, the online disclosures for certain categories of goods already subject to existing specialized COOL requirements would also be required to comply with these existing requirements. Importantly, products covered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) COOL would have to comply with AMS’s COOL requirements in the online disclosure.
  • The legislation would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), but would require that FTC and CBP sign a memorandum of understanding to provide for consistent implementation of the legislation.”

This legislation will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration. We can only hope that the provisions of the COOL Online Act will be added to the House version of the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. 

The Coalition for a Prosperous America, of which I have been a member since 2011, supports the COOL Online Act. I have been a member of the Buy America committee since it was started two years ago.  Recently, James A. Stuber, Co-Chair of the Buy America Committee and the author of What If Things Were Made in America Again, wrote “Congress must fight to ensure that America’s families know exactly what they’re buying online with their hard-earned money. Both the House and Senate should support country-of-origin labeling for all e-commerce transactions. Anything less could potentially put American lives at risk.”

We need the help of everyone who supports rebuilding American manufacturing by encouraging more people to Buy American.  Here’s what you can do:  Call the Capitol main number (202-224-3121) and ask to speak to the office of your Representative.  Ask them to vote against the Shop Safe Act. Ask them to sponsor or co-sponsor the COOL Online Act.  If you can’t get through on the main Capitol line, call the local office.  I’ve called my Representative.  Will you?

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Buying “Made in China” May Support Slave Labor

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020

One of the consequences of President Clinton’s granting China Most Favored Nation status and allowing them to become a member of the World Trade Organization is that China took over production of consumer goods previously made in the USA. As a result, the consumer products you buy that are “Made in China” may be made by slave labor.

The Global Slavery Index published by the Minderoo Foundation “estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were over 3.8 million people living in conditions of modern slavery in China, a prevalence of 2.8 victims for every thousand people in the country. This estimate does not include figures on organ trafficking…Much of its rapid economic development has been the result of a domestic economy specialising in the production of labour-intensive, cheap goods for export. Forced labour mainly occurs in the production of these goods, including in the manufacturing and construction sectors, as well as in more informal industries…,Other labour-intensive industries in China are also creating a demand for low-paid foreign labour. The sugarcane industry in China’s southern Guangxi province attracts an estimated 50,000 illegal Vietnamese workers. Factory towns in Southern China have been found to employ illegal workers from Vietnam on a widespread basis.”

The Index commented that “The Chinese government officially announced in November 2013 that it would abolish the Re-education through Labour (RTL) System, in which inmates were held and routinely subjected to forced labour for up to four years. However, a 2017 report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission alleges that China still maintains a network of state detention facilities that use forced labour.”

The purpose of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is to monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and China, and to provide recommendations to Congress. If you read a chapter or two from any of the reports from 2017 – 2019, you would realize that Congress is not doing enough to address the threats China poses to the U.S.

In the staff research report, “U.S. Exposure to Forced Labor Exports from China,” Alexander Bowe, Research Fellow, write, “China maintains a network of prison labor facilities that use forced labor* to produce goods intended for export—a violation of U.S.-China trade agreements and U.S. law. U.S. officials continue to face considerable difficulty in combating exports of these forced labor products, since cooperation from Chinese interlocutors has remained at low levels for years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have not been permitted to make site inspections in China since 2009…”

In an article on June 11, 2019, the Epoch Times reported, “In undercover footage shot inside China’s notorious Masanjia labor camp, prisoners are shown hunched over work tables, with piles of wire diodes—an electronic component—on either side of a rubber mat. They do this work 15 hours a day, while being fed subsistence meals and receiving a pittance or no pay at all. Some inmates, exhausted, are shown lying down to sleep under their work tables.”

Another Epoch Times article of August 25, 2020, states, “For three years on and off, Li Dianqin worked for about 17 hours a day making cheap clothing—from bras to trousers—in a Chinese prison. She worked for no pay and faced punishment by prison guards if she failed to meet production quotas. One time, a team of about 60 workers who couldn’t reach their quota were forced to work for three days straight, not allowed to eat or go to the bathroom. The guards would shock the prisoners with electric batons whenever they dozed off.”

On March 1, 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute released a report that stated, “Since 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and members of other Turkic Muslim minorities have disappeared into a vast network of ‘re-education camps’ in the far west region of Xinjiang…This report estimates that more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019, and some of them were sent directly from detention camps.”

The report explains, “Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 82 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors…”  The whole list is too long to publish in this short article, but it includes: Amazon, Apple, BMW, Calvin Klein, Carter’s, Cisco, Dell, General Motors, Google, Hitachi, HP, L.L.Bean, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Nike, Panasonic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Puma, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, Skechers, Sony, Toshiba, Victoria’s Secret, and Volkswagen.

It is noted that “ASPI reached out to these 82 brands to confirm their relevant supplier details. Where companies responded before publication, we have included their relevant clarifications in this report. If any company responses are made available after publication of the report, we will address these online…a small number of brands advised they have instructed their vendors to terminate their relationships with these suppliers in 2020.” The full report can be downloaded here.

On August 13, 2020, The New York Times updated a visual investigation revealing that “As the coronavirus pandemic continues to drive demand for personal protective equipment, Chinese companies are rushing to manufacture the gear for domestic and global consumption. A New York Times visual investigation has found that some of those companies are using Uighur labor through a contentious government-sponsored program that experts say often puts people to work against their will.”

The next time you are ready to buy an article of clothing or a pair of shoes “Made in China,” think about what the working conditions were like for the workers who made these items. Remember that “Made in China” could mean being made in prison by slaves or forced labor at private companies. Avoid buying from online websites as much as possible as current law doesn’t require information on where a product is made. Choose to buy Made in USA whenever possible. Take a look at the variety of products available at these websites:  www.madeinamericastore.com, www.buydirectUSA.com, and of course, www.themadeinamericamovement.com, which publishes my articles.

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