Renewed Focus on an Old Problem
In July of 2024, Congress passed a law requiring all federal agencies to purchase only American-made flags for use anywhere on public grounds (read the law here).
Now, every American flag on government property will have been 100 percent manufactured "from articles, materials, or supplies that have been grown or 100 percent produced or manufactured in the United States."
Several states have previously passed laws with similar language in recent years, but now it applies to federal agencies nationwide as well.
This is great news, but...
Why is a Law Like This Needed?
It seems like an unusual circumstance, doesn't it, that anyone who would fly the American flag would want to display a flag made somewhere other than the United States? Well, this is really where the story begins. Most flag buyers do want American-made flags, but they may not be completely aware of how to ensure that the flag they are buying was made here.
In part, this is because nefarious companies overseas have been exploiting part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act called the de minimus law. The de minimus law was intended to make it easier for American e-commerce companies and American tourists to pass their items through customs when importing goods valued below a threshold of $800; thus reducing the administrative burden to our citizenry and our government agencies.
However, small and mid-sized overseas manufacturers overseas (usually from China) have been encouraged to leverage this law and to move away from large container shipments. Instead, they are taught to ship their packages into the United States in smaller bundles to avoid inspection.
As a result, low-value packages have been able to enter the United States with no inspection or verification of their materials and labeling — including, but not limited to, the use of substandard materials and false claims of being manufactured here in the United States.
What is Being Done to Combat This Fraud?
Currently nothing. In fact, many massive global companies have been openly encouraging foreign actors to take advantage of the loophole.
However, the tremendous increase in the volume of imports that have entered the country as a result of this law has caught the attention of lawmakers and there has been a flurry of recent activity aimed at closing the loophole and to protect American citizens, manufacturers, and businesses.
How Can I Know My U.S. Flag is American-Made?
The good news in the meantime is that consumers can take some easy actions to protect themselves from fraud when buying an American flag. Without further ado...
- Consider the price. In most cases, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Or, in the case of American flags, at the very least it probably wasn't manufactured domestically.
- If you are making your purchase from one of the global companies that provide a platform for sellers to process all kinds of products, be sure to delve deep into the seller's information until you can find the country of origin for your product. If you cannot locate the country of origin, that should be an indication to move on.
- If you are buying your American flag in person at a store that specializes in something other than flags, check the flag's packaging/label and research the company that provided the flag to the retailer (follow the tips below).
- If you are buying your American flag from an online source - even one that specializes in flags - search their footer or "About Us" page for a physical address within the United States. If there is not an address, or only a P.O. Box, it's probably best to move on.
- If there is an address, Google it. Is it an actual retail location? If so, great! However, if the address refers to a residence, a warehouse, a single unit in an office building, a mailbox rental facility, or something else then it’s probably best to either try recommendation #11 below or to move on.
- Check the writing on the website. Do the descriptions match the products? Do they seem computer generated? Good product descriptions will refer to the exact product being sold and will have the semblance of human tone and local grammar.
- Looking for a short list? The Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA) are dedicated to researching and cataloging the manufacturers and retailers who produce and/or sell American flags that are exclusively American-made, i.e., all materials and labor sourced from within the United States. They publish and update an alphabetized list, which can be viewed on their website here.
This certified list can also be used to verify/cross reference any flags that may have the FMAA logo fraudulently applied. - When you place an order online, always make a note of the date, time and website where you made the purchase, and keep this information handy until you receive your order. After you place an online order, watch to make sure you receive an order confirmation containing contact information matching the entity where you made your purchase. If you don’t receive an order confirmation within 1-2 days it’s best to contact the company for resolution or to notify your bank or credit card company of possible fraud.
- U.S. Textile Law requires that the country of origin and material content must either be printed on the flag's heading or on a label that is sewn into the flag's heading (for flags larger than 12"x18"). Those flags without are probably made overseas.
- When buying an American flag with embroidered stars and sewn stripes, keep in mind that American flag manufacturers exclusively use 200-denier nylon bunting, 100% cotton bunting, or two-ply polyester bunting in the flag-making process. If you see any other fabric/material (or "material content missing"), then the flag was probably manufactured overseas.
- Lastly, and possibly most informatively, can the U.S. employees of the company you might purchase from be contacted by phone or email? If you call them, do they pick up the phone? If you submit a message to their contact form, do you receive an email reply or a call back within 1 to 2 business days?
Stay the Course, Fly American-Made
While it can be tough and there are definitely a growing number of obstacles and distractions, we can still find ways to buy with confidence and accuracy. As always, let us know if you have questions about our products. Here's to all-American flags for all Americans!
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Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
