President Trump signed Executive Order 14392 on March 13, 2026, directing the Federal Trade Commission to prioritize enforcement against false USA-origin claims, including on online marketplaces.
What the order does
- FTC enforcement priority. The FTC Chairman is told to prioritize cases where a claim that a product is “Made in the U.S.A.” or a similar USA-origin claim violates the law, consulting other agencies with product expertise as needed.
- Online marketplaces. The FTC is to consider proposed rules saying an online marketplace’s failure to set up procedures for verifying country-of-origin claims may be an unfair or deceptive practice.
- Voluntary USA labeling. Agencies that oversee country-of-origin labeling are to consider rules promoting voluntary origin labels for USA-made products and to give businesses consistent guidance.
- Federal purchasing. Agencies running government-wide contracts and schedules must periodically verify “Buy American Act,” “Country of Origin USA” and similar claims. Misrepresented products are to be pulled from procurement and the vendors referred to the Justice Department for possible False Claims Act cases.
The order says businesses that make “all, or virtually all” of their products onshore are entitled to “the undiluted branding benefits that come with supporting the American economy.”
Why it matters for Made in USA
The order does not change the legal standard. The FTC’s Made in USA Labeling Rule still requires that a product be “all or virtually all” made in the USA to carry an unqualified claim. What changes is the emphasis: the FTC is pushed to bring more cases, and online marketplaces could face rules on verifying the origin claims their sellers make.
The procurement section matters for federal suppliers. The Buy American Act and the FTC standard are different tests, and a False Claims Act referral raises the stakes for vendors who mix them up.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said the order lines up with her bipartisan COOL Online Act, which would require country of origin to be shown clearly in online product listings. “A rule isn’t going to cut it – we need to make this law,” she said.
Related: Made in USA vs. Buy American: what federal contractors need to know.
FAQ
Does the order change the Made in USA standard?
No. The FTC’s “all or virtually all” standard and Made in USA Labeling Rule still apply. The order sets enforcement priorities.
What does it mean for online marketplaces?
The FTC is to consider rules that could treat a marketplace’s failure to verify country-of-origin claims as an unfair or deceptive practice.
What happens to federal vendors who misstate origin?
Their products are to be removed from government procurement and the vendors referred to the Justice Department for possible False Claims Act action.
Source & credit
Source: The White House, Executive Order 14392, March 13, 2026: “Ensuring Truthful Advertising of Products Claiming to be Made in America”, and fact sheet. Reaction from Sen. Tammy Baldwin via WisPolitics.