Letter to Denise Roth, Administrator of General Services Administration - Review on "Made in America" Listings

Letter

Dear Administrator Roth:

I write to urge you to conduct a review and remove the "Made in America" notation from flatware products listed on the US General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage website that are not actually American-made.

Sherrill Manufacturing, which has launched its own brand, Liberty Tabletop, has adopted a business model that includes promoting the uniqueness of the company's high quality, American-made flatware. The company's products are listed on the GSA Advantage website with the label "Made in: United States of America." It has come to my attention, however that the GSA Advantage website lists several other flatware manufacturers' products as "Made in America" even though they are not; in fact, some of those manufacturers do not even label the products as "Made in America" on their own company websites.

I urge you to examine the flatware that is listed as "Made in America" on the GSA Advantage website, and remove the products that do not belong on that list. GSA should conduct a timely and thorough review of the list of American-made flatware on the GSA Advantage website, because improperly labeled products could have an impact on the business of companies that do manufacture their products in America, like Liberty Tabletop. Many federal agencies and consumers wish to support US businesses by buying American-made products; if they are searching for American-made flatware options on the GSA Advantage website, they may be misled. A thorough review of the list, and removal of the flatware products that are not actually American-made, would promote the companies, like Liberty, that actually manufacture their products in America, and ensure that consumers shopping for American-made products are not misinformed.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Source