eBay sellers in the USA say the marketplace has begun filling in country of origin data on their listings automatically, and that much of it is wrong, Value Added Resource reported on February 8, 2026.
What sellers report
eBay began auto-filling country of origin in the UK and other markets last year, telling sellers that items without it might not be eligible to ship to the USA through its Global Shipping Programme. The feature is now rolling out in the USA. eBay says a seller’s own entry always overrides its selection.
One seller wrote in eBay’s community forum that more than 900 listings were changed to China:
“Ebay has changed over 900 listings of mine to the country of orgin being China. They are mfg in USA!”
An eBay seller, in the eBay community forum
Others worry about the opposite error. If eBay lists an item as made in the USA when it is not, a domestic buyer could file an “item not as described” claim. Some sellers also linked the changes to a drop in international sales.
Why it matters for Made in USA
Country of origin on a listing is an origin claim. Value Added Resource noted that the FTC has been cracking down on false Made in USA claims. In July 2025, the FTC sent letters to Amazon and Walmart about possibly false Made in USA claims by third-party sellers on their platforms. Sellers of USA-made goods should check their listings. eBay’s bulk edit page shows which listings have no country of origin and which were filled in by eBay.
Related: FTC Made in USA letters to Amazon and Walmart.
FAQ
Is eBay adding country of origin to listings automatically?
Yes. Sellers say eBay is auto-filling the field in the USA, after doing so in the UK and other markets.
How can sellers fix wrong country of origin data?
Edit the Country/Region of Manufacture field. eBay says the seller’s entry overrides its selection, and bulk edit shows which listings eBay filled in.
Why does it matter?
Wrong origin data can mislead buyers, trigger item-not-as-described claims and affect customs and tariffs.
Source & credit
Originally reported by Value Added Resource (Liz Morton), February 8, 2026: Inaccurate Automated Country of Origin Data Creates Chaos for eBay Sellers