According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Made in USA” means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin.
Why Fender Guitars are marked 'Corona California' or Made In Corona California.'
California Business and Professions Code § 17533.7, which is part of California's False Advertising Law that generally prohibits false and misleading advertising statements, has even stricter rules for making "Made in America" claims in California:
"It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association to sell or offer for sale in this state any merchandise on which merchandise or on its container there appears the words "Made in the USA," "Made in America," "USA," or similar words when the merchandise or any article, unit or part thereof, has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured or produced outside of the United States...."
Now, here is the hard to find published percentage required for a Made In USA Product Claim:
California MIA law
SECTION 1.
Section 17533.7 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
17533.7.
(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to sell or offer for sale in this state any merchandise on which merchandise or on its container there appears the words “Made in U.S.A.,” “Made in America,” “U.S.A.,” or similar words if the merchandise or any article, unit, or part thereof, has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured, or produced outside of the United States.
(b) This section shall not apply to merchandise made, manufactured, or produced in the United States that has one or more articles, units, or parts from outside of the United States,
if all of the articles, units, or parts of the merchandise obtained from outside the United States constitute not more than 5 percent of the final wholesale value of the manufactured product.
Caveat Emptor...
Does anyone else find this irritating that Fender charges USA pricing for imported guitars, assembled in the USA???
